The Japan high school selection team played against BV04 Dusseldorf in their first group stage game on 2 April in the 53rd Dusseldorf international youth championship (2-6 April). The top two finishers of the five-team groups, and the four teams will compete in the knockout stage.

Result of the first group stage game for Japan

Japan high school selection team 2-0 (1st 2-0 , 2nd 0-0 )BV04 Dusseldorf

Scores
10 min　WATANABE Ryoma（Japan High schools Seleciton）
19 min　IWASAKI Yuto（Japan High schools Seleciton）

Starters
GK
1(C) SHIMURA Ko　（Funabashi Municipal High School→Júbilo Iwata／Senior）

DF
3 NODA Yuki　（Otsu High School／Junior）
5 WATANABE Tsuyoshi　（Yamanashi Gakuin High School→Chuo University／Senior）
2 OGAWA Akira（Reseisha High School→Osaka Sport University／Senior）
6 OONO Yuya　（Yamanashi Gakuin High School→Hannan University／Senior）

MF
8 SUZUKI Tokuma　（Maebashi Ikuei High School→Tsukuba University／Senior）
9 SAWADA Atsuki　（Ryutsu Keizai University Senior School Kashiwa→Dokyo University／Senior）
7 KUBO Kazuki　（Ryutsu Keizai University Senior School Kashiwa→Ryutsu Keizai University／Senior）
10 WATANABE Ryoma　（Maebashi Ikuei High School→Waseda University／Senior）

FW
18 ICHIMI Kazunari　（Otsu High School／Junior）
20 IWASAKI Yuto　（Kyoto Tachibana High School／sophomore）

Substitutes
38min　MF 7 KUBO Kazuki → MF 11 MAEKAWA Yuya（Seiryo High School→Chuo University／Senior）
38min　FW 18 ICHIMI Kazunari→FW 19 AOYAGI Ryota（Maebashi Ikuei High School→Hosei University／Senior）
38min　FW 20 IWASAKI Yuto→FW 16 SUEYOSHI Rui（Hatsushiba Hashimoto High School→Osaka Sport University／Senior）

Match Reports

All the players seemed to be nervous and played flatly early on. But after some five minutes into it, Japan gradually began moving the ball and their players better and earned their pace.

On 10th minute, Japan connected passes well in the center field and forward ICHIMI Kazunari received a lateral pass in a niche of BV04 Dusseldorf defenders. He had a defender behind him, but made a excellent turn and passed it to midfielder WATANABE Ryoma. WATANABE won 1 on 1 against the Dusseldorf goalkeeper and scored a goal. The goal gave Japan even more energy and the team was able to play more consistently both offensively and defensively. On 19th, forward IWASAKI Yuto put an early cross from side back OONO Yuya from the right into the net to extend a lead for Japan.

In the second half, Japan altered their formation from 4-4-2 to 3-4-3, focusing on playing football to aggressively try to get the ball and quickly connect it for their offence. They occasionally struggled against BV04 Dusseldorf’s pressing by their defenders early in the half, but created chances as they checked their intentions with the entire team. The players maintained their composure yet were also spirited. Japan posted a 1-0 victory in their first game of the tournament.

Comment

SHIMURA Ko (Funabashi Municipal High School→Jubilo Iwata/senior)
As I was the one who would protect the goal mouth for the second straight year, I was nervous a little. All of us seemed to be nervous and stiff in the first half, but we still managed to score a goal early, and it gave us some boost. In the second half, we were spirited but it wouldn't lead to the performance we wanted, but we were united as a team and I felt that we were developing. I am here for the second straight year, plus, I have the heavy duty being the captain, but we would like to put up a better performance after a day off tomorrow.

Schedule