Panda Cup 2016 2nd Match　vs　U-19 Czech Republic National Team
2016-6-17 (Fri.) - 15:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium (Chengdu/China)

U-19 Czech Republic National Team   1-2 (0-2, 1-0)   U-19 Japan National Team

Scores
9'   IWASAKI Yuto (U-19 Japan National Team)
45+1'   URATA Itsuki (U-19 Japan National Team)
47'   Goal against (U-19 Czech Republic National Team)

Line-ups
GK: KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF: KOJIMA Masaya, OMINAMI Takuma, MACHIDA Koki, URATA Itsuki
MF: TAKAGI Akito, ICHIMARU Mizuki, KUBOTA Kazune, NAGANUMA Yoichi
FW: KAKITA Yuki, IWASAKI Yuto

Substitutes
GK: OSAKO Keisuke
DF: YANAGI Takahiro, NAKAYAMA Yuta
MF: DOAN Ritsu, SAKAI Daisuke, TOMIYASU Takehiro, SUGIMORI Koki
FW: OGAWA Koki, KISHIMOTO Takeru

57'   OMINAMI Takuma → TOMIYASU Takehiro
69'   URATA Itsuki → NAKAYAMA Yuta
69'   KAKITA Yuki → KISHIMOTO Takeru
69'   TAKAGI Akito → DOAN Ritsu
90+3'  NAGANUMA Yoichi → SUGIMORI Koki

Match Report

The U-19 Japan National Team met Czech Republic for their 2nd match in the Panda Cup.

With many players who did not play in the first match put on the starting line-up, Japan showed collective defence from the beginning to rob the ball for their offence. In the 9th minute, defender URATA Itsuki fed a long ball from Japan’s end to open space on the right flank, which was picked up by forward IWASAKI Yuto. Iwasaki then penetrated into the box and right-footed a fierce strike into the back of the net for Japan’s early lead.

Japan kept attacking after that. Urata shot with his left foot off a free-kick moments before the end of the first half. The opposing goalkeeper once denied it, but the deflection went to midfielder NAGANUMA Yoichi who showed his outstanding dribbling skills into the box, draw defenders and fed the ball to Urata rushing in. Urata composedly made sure that the ball went into goal to widen the lead to two goals before the first half’s finish.

From the start of the second half, Japan still went up aggressively for the third goal of the day. In the 47th minute, however, the ball was stolen by an opponent in Japan’s end, which eventually let the opposition score back one goal following precise ball movement and penetration. Japan attempted to continue attacking, but bad passes kept them from reaching shooting opportunities.

On the other hand, Czech’s attacking side became more active with long feeds and long throws which gave Japan a hard time defending. At last the match ended without any more goals added to either side with Japan tenaciously defending. They successfully grabbed the second straight win by holding on to their slim lead.

The third match for Japan is held on Sunday 19 June against the host country’s U-19 China PR National Team.

Players' Comments

MF #8  KUBOTA Kazune (Kashima Antlers)
Our focus for this tournament’s second game against Czech was how we played early in the match and how we dealt with the opponents’ long balls. At first we kept our defence compact, picked up second balls and started our attacks from there. But as the match went on, we started becoming unable to adjust our positioning and our passes in build-up became less accurate and we made this match tougher for ourselves.

I thought that we needed to create our rhythm by controlling the game, eliminating opponents’ momentum, and taking initiative especially when it got physically enduring later in the match. We want to get well prepared for the last match against China.

MF #17  ICHIMARU Mizuki (Gamba Osaka)
The way we started off the match was good, I think. We prevented them from doing what they wanted to do and we took the initiative in the first half. But if we can’t keep playing that way for 90 minutes, we can’t advance out of the final qualifiers.

In the second half, I thought it’s our problem to solve to figure out how to regain our pace when things were going on our opponents’ pace. If all of us had read the course of the match and made the best decisions possible in each moment, we wouldn’t have allowed that one goal and we would have added a few more goals for ourselves. I think we have got to tackle the homework we got today and play in the final qualifiers.

MF #7  NAGANUMA Yoichi (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
In the first match, we were able to play well as a team and we could carry that momentum into the second match. We could play very well with the clear understanding of our game plan. Speaking of myself, I had been away from national team matches for a while, so I was a little nervous. But I think I could aggressively show my plays and work hard for my team. I want to stay focused until the last minute to win one more match and finish this tournament with the championship.

DF #19  OMINAMI Takuma (Jubilo Iwata)
In this match, we were able to pay good attention to how to start off the match just as we did in the first match. We were able to get it going well and play the match with our own pace. Then we went into the second half with the two-goal lead.

But early in the second half, we were overwhelmed by the opponents’ pressure and we allowed one goal. From there it was their pace and we had a long stretch of having to keep defending. But I think we all together defended well until we got this win. We want to win against China PR on the last day again with everyone’s effort put together.

Schedule

*Local Time
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.