AFC U-19 Championship 2016 Qualifiers Group J 3rd Match vs U-18 Australia National Team
2015-10-6 (Tue.) - 16:00　Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
National Sports Complex Stadium (Laos/Vientiane)

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

Scores
45+1'   TAKAGI Akito (U-18 Japan National Team)
45+2'   SAKAI Daisuke (PSO) (U-18 Japan National Team)
71'   OGAWA Koki (PSO) (U-18 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
GK: KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF: FUJITANI So, TOMIYASU Takehiro, NAKAYAMA Yuta, FUNAKI Kakeru
MF: DOAN Ritsu, SAKAI Daisuke, SASAKI Takumi, TAKAGI Akito
FW: KISHIMOTO Takeru, OGAWA Koki

Substitutes
GK: HIROSUE Riku, YAMAGUCHI Rui
DF: IWATA Tomoki, NODA Hiroki, MACHIDA Koki, URATA Itsuki
MF: IWASAKI Yuto, SUZUKI Tokuma, MORISHIMA Tsukasa, KUBOTA Kazune
FW: ICHIMI Kazunari, YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa

56'   TAKAGI Akito → IWASAKI Yuto
74'   KISHIMOTO Takeru → YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa
87'   SASAKI Takumi → IWATA Tomoki

Match Report

U-18 Australia National Team, whom Japan will meet in the last match of the qualifying round, have played two games so far and are on the same points, goal difference, and total score as Japan. The winner of the match between Japan and Australia will top the group to get through the qualifying round.

Japan took the initiative from the beginning, keeping possession and initiating attacks on both wings. They sent forward passes, depending on the opponent’s defence, to create attacking opportunities and take shots.

Australia, on the other hand, displayed their solid defence in their area, in order to let Japan make mistakes and to counter attack. They employed lower risk tactics. The game moved when everyone expected it would stay scoreless in the first half. After one minute in additional time, FUJITANI So dribbled through on the right wing to the penalty area, drawing the opponent to send a cross to the area in front of the goal. TAKAGI Akito, who ran from the side, calmly took a shot, striking the opener.

Just one minute after that, OGAWA Koki earned a penalty when he initiated dribbling into the penalty area. Then the captain SAKAI Daisuke knocked the ball into the right-hand corner calmly. The game went into the second half at 2-0.

Japan continued attacking in the second half, looking for more goals. As Australia can still earn a place in the AFC U-19 Championship even if they finish in second place, depending on other groups’ results, they focused on defence rather than attack. Japan added more insurance.

In the 71st minute, Ogawa received the ball in the penalty area, but the opponent once again committed a foul when he started to dribble, giving away a penalty. Ogawa calmly scored through from the penalty spot. The score stayed the same until the final whistle. Japan won a complete victory against Australia 3-0, topping the qualifying group, and booking a place in the AFC U-19 Championship 2016.

Coach and Players' Comments

UCHIYAMA Atsushi, Coach
The players did their best. All of them, including the players on the bench, sacrificed themselves in a certain way for the match, which gave us power as a team and led us to the victory. Having said that, we haven’t achieved anything yet. We’d like to fix the problems, which we found during the qualifying round, to improve the team in the limited time before the coming AFC U-19 Championship. I really appreciate all the people that supported us. Thank you.

SAKAI Daisuke (Oita Trinita)
I’m relieved that we got through the qualifying round. However, it’s only the beginning. I’d like to get myself ready through the coming year in preparation for the AFC U-19 Championship. Thank you for your support.

NAKAYAMA Yuta (Kashiwa Reysol)
I’m glad we got through the qualifying round. I think we played as a united team against each opponent to beat them. Having said that, in terms of performance in the match, there were some achievements as well as problems to be improved, including each player’s individual tasks. I’ll practice hard back in my club team in preparation for the AFC U-19 Championship. I’m grateful to the supporters and local people, who cheered for us.

SASAKI Takumi (Vegalta Sendai Youth)
Today we met Australia, who have also won two games, to decide who would top the group. We could display our achievement after playing as a team for one year and got a good result. As we got through the qualifying round, I’d like to improve myself prior to the AFC U-19 Championship 2016.

TAKAGI Akito (Gamba Osaka Youth)
The reason we could take the initiative from the beginning is that each one of us took the right position. We stayed ambitious for goals, and finally struck the opener as a united team when we gradually started to create goal-scoring opportunities. Then we could score a couple more. In the second half, we kept possession to strike a deciding goal, controlling the game until the final whistle.

We got through the qualifying round. I think today’s match was the last opportunity to play with these teammates. I really appreciate all the staff and the players as well as those who supported us. I’ll try my best to improve myself when I’m back in my club team.

Schedule

 Note: The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.