The 28th Valentin Granatkin International Football Tournament Match 1st  vs  U-18 Slovakia
2016-1-3 (Sun.) - 14:15　Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2) 
Peterburgsky SCC (Russia/Saint Petersburg)

U-18 Slovakia National Team　3-0 (1-0, 2-0)　U-18 Japan National Team

Scores
42'　Goal against (U-18 Slovakia National Team)
55'　Goal against (U-18 Slovakia National Team)
85'　Goal against (U-18 Slovakia National Team)

Line-ups
GK: WAKAHARA Tomoya
DF: HASEGAWA Takumi, MORISHITA Reiya, TOMIYASU Takehiro, FUNAKI Kakeru
MF: MIYAZAKI Kiwara, SASAKI Takumi, KAJIYAMA Kanta, SAITO Mitsuki
FW: YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa, SUGA Daiki

Substitutes
GK: OSAKO Keisuke
DF: TANAKA Riku, MORIOKA Riku
MF: FUJIMOTO Kanya, ITO Hiroki, NISHIMOTO Takanobu
FW: CARDONA Zen, ITO Ryotaro, NAKAMURA Shunta

HT　MIYAZAKI Kiwara → NISHIMOTO Takanobu
HT　KAJIYAMA Kanta → ITO Ryotaro
60'　FUNAKI Kakeru → TANAKA Riku
60'　MORISHITA Reiya → MORIOKA Riku
60'　YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa → NAKAMURA Shunta
65'　SAITO Mitsuki → ITO Hiroki
65'　SUGA Daiki → FUJIMOTO Kanya
71'　SASAKI Takumi → CARDONA Zen

Match Report

The first group game was against the U-18 Slovakia National Team.

Although Japan took the initiative in the first half, passing the ball around, the team struggled against Slovakia’s solid defence and could not take shots. After 42 minute, Slovakia earned a free kick from a Japanese foul, and headed home in the centre of the goal, striking the opener.

In the second half, Japan kept possession in Slovakia’s area from the beginning, creating more opportunities to make shots. However, in the 55th minute, Slovakia sent a long-distance ball from the defensive line, initiating an attack. A player in midfield went through the centre to score another.

Although Japan stayed ambitious for goals while ITO Ryotaro, CARDONA Zen, NAKAMURA Shunta, who came off the bench, initiated attacks, they could not find the back of the net. After 85 minutes Slovakia got through Japan’s right wing, and the player at the centre struck another goal. The match ended 3-0. Japan could not win their opening game.

The second match will be against the local Saint Petersburg Selection on 4 January.

Players' Comments

MF #10  SASAKI Takumi (Vegalta Sendai Youth)
In the first match of the tournament, we struggled to take shots against the opponent’s strong defence, and conceded goals from our mistakes. We lost the game. I realised that players, who are not on the ball, have to take more action in this kind of tough game. I’d like to learn from our defeat to win the remaining matches.

MF #14  SAITO Mitsuki (Shonan Bellmare Youth)
In today’s game, we could pass the ball around as a team, trying to initiate attacks with forward passes to space behind the opponent. However, due to mistakes in build-up at the centre or the low quality of forward passes, we messed up our momentum, letting the opponent attack back.

Personally, as I don’t think I ran well or played tactically enough, I’d like to play more aggressively in both attack and defence, thinking of what we need to win the coming game.

GK #18  WAKAHARA Tomoya (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18)
Although we wanted to win the first match to get positive results in this tournament, we couldn’t do so, unfortunately. Personally, I don’t think I challenged enough. I couldn’t keep a good distance from the defenders or react well to set pieces, and let the team conceded goals.

I tend to review each play after a game to learn something. I’d like to challenge more in the coming game, so that I don’t have regrets after the match. We’ll prepare ourselves well as a united team.

Schedule

*Local time

The 28th Valentin Granatkin International Football Tournament Group Rosters

Group A : Saint Petersburg, Belarus, Slovakia, Japan, Lithuania
Group B : Finland, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Moldova, Russia
Group C : Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Bulgaria