The 27th Valentin Granatkin Memorial International Football Tournament 1st Round 2nd Match
Mon.  January 2015   Kick Off 14:15   Playing Time　90minutes(45minutes halves)
Peterburgsky SCC(Saint Petersburg／Russia)

U-17 Russia National Team   1-3(1st 0-1、2nd 1-2)    U-18 Japan National Team

Scores
39min    KISHIMOTO Takeru (U-18 Japan National Team)
55min    OGAWA Koki(U-18 Japan National Team)
57min    Goal Against（PK）(U-17 Russia National Team)
71min    NODA Hiroki(U-18 Japan National Team)

Starters
GK：  ABE Koto
DF：  FUJITANI So、NODA Hiroki、NAKAYAMA Yuta、URATA Itsuki
MF：  KOBAYASHI Hayate、SAKAI Daisuke、MORISHIMA Tsukasa、KUBOTA Kazune
FW：  OGAWA Koki、KISHIMOTO Takeru

Substitutes
GK：  KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF：  ITAKURA Kou、SYOUJI Honoya
MF：  MIYOSHI Koji、NAGANUMA Yoichi、SASAKI Takumi
FW： SUGIMORI Koki

60min   KISHIMOTO Takeru → SUGIMORI Koki
73min   URATA Itsuki → SASAKI Takumi
84min   FUJITANI So → SYOUJI Honoya

Best Player Award ：　OGAWA Koki

Match Report

The U-18 Japan National Team had their second match of the first league against the Russia national U-17 football team. The Albania national team originally planned to participate in the tournament, but bowed out of the competition and the Russia national U-17 football team, who were one year younger, hastily decided to take Albania’s place.

If Japan won or drew this match, they could get through the first league in second place. The two forwards Ogawa and Kishimoto initiated the attack from the beginning of the match, receiving the ball in the space behind the opponent or on the sides. Then Kubota and Kobayashi at the centre joined the attack, finishing with shots at various times. Although the players also created their chances with some set pieces and Urata struck a superb shot from a free kick in front of the goal, these were denied by the opponent’s goalkeeper. Japan continued their attack. After 39 minutes, Ogawa out on the wing, received the ball from the corner kick at the right, and passed it to the other side. Kishimoto reacted to it and headed in a shot, striking the opener. The first half ended 1-0 to Japan.

Early in the second half, Russia started to press Japan up front. However, Japan retained possession and passed the ball around to get through to the space behind the opponent, so that Kishimoto and Kubota could take shots.

In the 55th minute, Ogawa reacted to a cross sent by Fujitani to the area in front of the goal from the right wing, and headed home, building a two-goal lead. However, after 57 minutes, Russia earned a penalty kick due to an unnecessary Japanese foul and scored a goal.
As Japan continued their attack, staying ambitious for additional goals, in the 71st minute, Kubota received the ball on the left wing through a set piece and passed a cross into the area in front of the goal. Then Noda reacted to it and struck a goal. Although Japan continued creating numerous opportunities without being in any clutch situations, they couldn’t find the back of the net any more. Japan won the game 3-1. Japan got through the first league in second place and will play against Slovakia and Finland in the second league.

Comments

NODA Hiroki (Ohzu High School)
Today I was focusing on fixing the issues I found in the match against Azerbaijan. Although I’m pleased that we scored three goals, we conceded a goal and I’d like to fix the issue before the next match. I’d like to do my best by sacrificing myself in order to contribute to my team even more in the final three games.

KOBAYASHI Hayate (Yokkaichi Chuo Technical High School)
I’m pleased to be here to join this trip to Russia. I started today’s game. When I listened to the Japanese anthem, I felt tense in a good way. I think we played as a united team today and won the match as a result. I’d like to play well and get good results in the rest of the matches as well.

KUBOTA Kazune (Osaka Toin High School)
Today’s game was against the Russia national U-17 football team. Even though we could score three goals from set pieces and attacks from the wings, there are some places we can still improve – the accuracy of the last pass or the finishing. Personally I found my issues in the accuracy of each pass or the movement during play. So I’d like to fix them as much as possible for the coming second league.

Schedule

*The schedule may be subject to change according to the team condition, the weather, etc. without notice.

The 27th Valentin Granatkin Memorial International Football Tournament Group Rosters

   Group A: Russia, Lithuania, Moldova
   Group B: Belarus, Estonia, Latvia
   Group C: Bulgaria, Slovenia, Kazakhstan
   Group D: Slovakia, Saint Petersburg, Greece
   Group E: Moscow, Korea Republic, Finland
   Group F: Japan, U-17 Russia National Team, Azerbaijan