SBS CUP International Youth Soccer 2015  2nd Match  vs  U-18 Shizuoka Selection Team
2015-8-14 (Fri) - 16:00　Playing Time: 40min. x 2
Kusanagi Stadium (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka)

U-18 Shizuoka Selection Team   2-1 (2-0, 0-1)   U-18 Japan National Team

Scores
11'   Goal against (U-18 Shizuoka Selection Team)
40'   Goal against (U-18 Shizuoka Selection Team)
57'   KUBOTA Kazune (Japan)

Line-ups
GK: KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF: FUJITANI So, ITAKURA Ko, NAKAYAMA Yuta, URATA Itsuki
MF: MIYOSHI Koji, SAKAI Daisuke, SASAKI Takumi, TAKAGI Akito
FW: KISHIMOTO Takeru, ICHIMI Kazunari

Substitutes 
GK: HIROSUE Riku
DF: IWATA Tomoki, MACHIDA Koki
MF: KUBOTA Kazune, DOAN Ritsu
FW: OGAWA Koki, KUNIMOTO Takahiro

HT   MIYOSHI Koji → KUBOTA Kazune
46'   KISHIMOTO Takeru → OGAWA Koki
63'   TAKAGI Akito → MACHIDA Koki

Match Report

U-18 Japan National Team, who won their first game against the U-18 Spain national team on penalty kicks, played the second match against U-18 Shizuoka Selection Team.

Although Japan took the initiative, the players could not play accurately, making careless mistakes due to fatigue from their first match, as well as the heat over 30 C. They could not create goal-scoring opportunities. After 11 minutes, Japan were intercepted near the halfway line because of a careless passing mistake, and conceded a goal through a counter-attack.

In the 40th minute, Japan had the ball stolen again from a similar mistake, letting the opponents run towards the goal to receive a long-distance pass. The opponent scored a goal, building a two-goal lead. The game went into the second half at 2-0.

In the second half, although Japan kept possession, they could not initiate attacks properly due to careless mistakes, and struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities.

After 57 minutes, the players started to attack on the wing, and URATA Itsuki, who received the ball on the opponent’s right wing, sent an accurate cross. Then KUBOTA Kazune got to the ball and struck a goal, closing the gap to one goal. Japan continued looking for more goals to level the game.

However, they could not find the back of the net against Shizuoka defence. The match ended 2-1, and Japan could not earn any points.

U-18 Japan National Team will meet the U-18 Croatia National Team, who turned the game around against Spain 2-1 on the same day, for the last match on 16 August. Japan still have an opportunity to win the championship, if they beat Croatia, depending on the other match’s result.

Players' Comments

SASAKI Takumi (Vegalta Sendai Youth)
We couldn’t share our vision and decisions in either attack or defence, and played very poorly. We have to use our bodies and minds even more to play better, sharing our decisions between the players.

Although as a national team we shouldn’t have lost to this opponent, we can’t challenge this result. We’d like to learn from our experience. As we’ve got a one-day break before the coming game, we’d like to get ourselves ready for the next match.

TAKAGI Akito (Gamba Osaka Youth)
We let the opponent counter attack us from our mistakes, and conceded two goals. As for the first goal, I was intercepted and lost the ball, which I shouldn’t let happen. I need to improve the quality of passes and decision-making, when they are vital. We started to press the opponent after falling two goals behind.

Although we had some goal-scoring opportunities, we only scored one goal. I know it’s not possible to increase the accuracy that quickly, but I’d like to focus on scoring to win the remaining match against Croatia.

FUJITANI So (Vissel Kobe U-18)
The match was by far the lowest-quality match we’ve ever played. Our main problems were the accuracy of our play as well as our stamina. We are here as the national team, representing Japan, we shouldn’t have lost to this opponent. As we have a one-day break, we’d like to come to terms with this result to get ourselves ready for the last match against Croatia. 

URATA Itsuki (JEF United Chiba)
We easily conceded two goals, letting the opponent pick up their pace because of our careless mistakes from the beginning. As we have to cope with tiredness and heat if we are to perform in the Asian qualifying round, I’d like to learn from this experience.

Personally, I found that I had to improve my stamina and the accuracy of my crosses. So I’d like to work on them. I’ll focus on both the performance and the result in the game against Croatia in order to win the game.

Schedule

SBS CUP International Youth Soccer 2015 Participating Teams

U-18 Croatia National Team, U-18 Spain National Team, U-18 Japan National Team, U-18 Shizuoka Selection Team