Game 1st in the group stage, vs South Korea U-17

2015 Sanix Cup international youth championship
Kickoff 10 p.m. 19 March  70 mins 35mins×2
Global Stadium (Munakata/Fukuoka Prefecture)

U-17 Japan National Team 1-1 (1st 1-0 , 2nd 0-1, PK 2-4) U-17 South Korea National Team

Score
16min   WATANABE Kouta（U-17 Japan National Team）
39min   Goals Against（PK）（U-17 South Korea National Team）

Starters
GK：TSURUTA Kaito
DF：UMEMURA Go、TOMIYASU Takehiro、MORIOKA Riku、NISHIMOTO Takanobu
MF：KAJIYAMA Kanta、WATANABE Kouta、ITO Hiroki、SASAKI Takumi
FW：ITO Ryotaro、IWASAKI Yuto

Substitutes
GK：INOUE Seiya
DF：TANAKA Kosuke、MORIOKA Riku、ASADA Shogo、FUNAKI Kakeru
MF：NAGASAWA Ryosuke、SAITO Mitsuki、FUJIMOTO Kanya、WATANABE Yo
FW：SAKIMURA Yusuke、TAGAWA Kyosuke

48min　ITO Ryotaro　→　TAGAWA Kyosuke

Match Report

The game began with some water on the pitch as it'd rained. Japan struck first on 16th minute, when Watanabe Kota headed a corner kick into the net. In the second half, a play in which Japan thought they blocked was judged a hand gave a penalty kick to Korea. Korea made it to tie on 39th.
Both sides played hard afterwards and the contest entered into the penalty kick shootout. Korea won it 4-2. Japan weren't able to post a win in their first game of the tournament. 

Comments

WATANABE Kota（Tokyo Verdy Youth）
It was a game against Korea, who we lost to in last year's AFC Under-16 Championship, so we definitely wanted to win it, but it was very frustrating to lose to them again in a penalty shootout. We are going to have to switch our mind and try to win all the remaining games so we can play with Korea again in the final.

TSURUTA Kaito（Vissel Kobe Under-18）
We had to play the game on the third day since we were called up on the national team, but I think we were able to get to work in the game having a team unity. Individually, I lacked accuracy on my positioning and kicks, so I want to improve on those for the next game.

Game 2nd in the group league, vs. Hangzhou Green Town FC Youth

2015 Sanix Cup international youth championship
Kickoff 4:10 p.m. 19 March, 2015 35 mins×2
Green Field A (Munakata/Fukuoka Prefecture)

U-17 Japan National Team  5-0 (1st 2-0, 2nd 3-0) Hangzhou Green town FC Youth 

Score
15min　 SAKIMURA Yusuke（U-17 Japan National Team）
21min　 TAGAWA Kyosuke（U-17 Japan National Team）
55min　 WATANABE Yo （U-17 Japan National Team）
70min　 ITO Ryotaro（U-17 Japan National Team）
70+1min　IWASAKI Yuto（U-17 Japan National Team）

Starters
GK：INOUE Seiya
DF：TANAKA Kosuke、MORIOKA Riku、ASADA Shogo、FUNAKI Kakeru
MF：NAGASAWA Ryosuke、SAITO Mitsuki、FUJIMOTO Kanya、WATANABE Yo
FW：SAKIMURA Yusuke、TAGAWA Kyosuke

Substitutes
GK：TSURUTA Kaito
DF：UMEMURA Go、TOMIYASU Takehiro、MORISHITA Reiya、NISHIMOTO Takanobu
MF：KAJIYAMA Kanta、WATANABE Kouta、ITO Hiroki、SASAKI Takumi
FW：ITO Ryotaro、IWASAKI Yuto

28min　NAGASAWA Ryosuke　→　IWASAKI Yuto
50min　TAGAWA Kyosuke　→　ITO Ryotaro

Match Report

Japan, who only needed to win it to advance to the knockout tournament, scored first as Akimura put a cross of Funaki from the left side into the net on 15th minute. Japan then added another when Tagawa received a pass from Nagasawa in the box and made a loop shot on 21st. Japan would not loosen their attacks in the second half and had their third goal as Watanabe Yo cooly netted a shot. On 70th, Ito Ryotaro put a Sakimura pass from the right side in for the fourth goal. Before the final whistle, Iwasaki penetrated with his individual skills and made a shot with his left foot right in front of the goal. The merciless Japan posted a 5-0 win.

Comments

SAKIMURA Yusuke（Avispa Fukuoka U-18）
We lost our first game and it was a game we couldn't afford to lose to advance to the next stage, so we came in it with a stronger heart. I was aiming at making a goal and play aggressively, so it was great that I could score a goal. In terms of my issues, I want to make goals when needed most offensively, get involved more in our attacks before the opponents' goals, and score more goals. Defensively, I want to pursue from up front by voluntarily turning on my switch an work harder by increasing my momentum. We are going to keep playing from tomorrow too, so we want to play as a team.

INOUE Seiya（Cerezo Osaka U-18）
While we couldn't afford to lose this second game to advance to the knockout round, it was relieving that we ended up giving up no goals by putting up our defensive challenge and covers and having defence to not let them have loose ball and have dangerous shots against the opponents who would kick a lot of long balls. Individually, I need to have a wider vision to be able to see the positions of the opponents and numbers, not just around the ball, and play at wider range behind the defensive line with good positioning.

MORIOKA Riku（Jubilo Iwata U-18）
I played at a centre back position today. I think that I could put up plays, considering well enough as the opponents were playing so passively, but we could've have a better offence had we changed our passing tempos and speed. Defensively, I think that we weren't able to execute detailed parts like the line controlling and positioning, so we would like to enter our next game as we can play in more like alert circumstances.

TAGAWA Kyosuke（Sagan Tosu U-18）
In our first game, I came in as a late substitute and wasn't able to do anything, so I came in today's game with a stronger mind-set. I was aiming at scoring and was pleased to do so, and it was also good that I won some aerial battles, which is one of my weapons. Also, there were occasions that I could shed defenders getting out to spaces, and I want to continue to do that. As for my issues, I think that my accuracy of shots weren't elaborate yet and I could've have score even more, so I want to have a better awareness for scoring and keep playing with an attachment to it.

Schedule