Pick-up Match

Ichiritsu Funabashi High School   2-0(1st 0-0, 2nd 2-0)  Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori)

The 4th Sec. of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST was held on Saturday 2 May. Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) met Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori).

Both teams are members of the all Japan High School Athletic Federation and have never lost a game yet. The game started in a tense atmosphere. Ichiritsu Funabashi passed the ball from the defensive line, waiting for opportunities to counter-attack, while Aomori Yamada defended solidly. The latter tried to initiate their attack, handling the ball in a careful manner.

After 30 minutes, KITAJO Toshiyuki from Aomori Yamada, who received a pass from KAMIYA Yuta, took a long-distance shot. Then in the 42nd minute, Kamiya aimed at the goal with a loose ball from a long-distance throw-in, creating more goal-scoring opportunities for Aomori Yamada. However, Ichiritsu Funabashi used their bodies strategically to defend and the game went into the second half scoreless.

In the second half, Aomori Yamada started their attack. KURODA Go, the head coach, encouraged the players during halftime: ‘the first move for both attack and defence has been too slow. Let’s run more!’ Then the players started to attack from the sides and press towards the opponent’s goal with long-distance throw-ins and corner kicks. Ichiritsu Funabashi, who defended those attacks with the goalkeeper TERAO Ryo, started their fightback. After 51 minutes, KUDO Yuki, who earned a free kick in the opponent’s area, got through the defenders with a one-two with his teammates, dribbling towards the goal and striking the opener into the left-hand corner.

Ichiritsu Funabashi built up positive momentum with their first goal and after 62 minutes KO Takahiro swept in a loose ball from NAGATO Ayumu’s shot, building a two-goal lead. Even after stretching their lead, Ichiritsu Funabashi stayed ambitious for their third goal with Nagato’s shot, which hit the goalpost, and continued to press Aomori Yamada by their relentless attack. Ichiritsu Funabashi shut out the opponent for the third time in this season

Head Coach and Players' Comments

ASAOKA Ryuzo, Head Coach (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
Although we struggled in the first half, making careless mistakes, we picked up our pace in the second half, using plucky forward passes, which led us to score. Once we struck the opener, the opponent had to move forward. Then we could find good space when we had the ball. We used those opportunities very well. I’d like to point out that we could counter-attack when the opponent became tired in the second half. The players stayed ambitious for goals after stretching the lead. I think we could somewhat show what’ve been practicing.

KUDO Yuki (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
In terms of the first goal, I was going to aim at the goal with the free kick. Then I heard the head coach’s advice: ‘your side is tree-on-two’, and decided to pass the ball. With numerical advantage, I’m confident to get through the defenders with my skill. So I aimed at the goal from cutting-in and struck a goal, as I intended. I determined not to lose mentally against a team from the all Japan High School Athletic Federation. Although I’m pleased that the mental strength led us to victory, there is room for improvement. I’d like to increase the accuracy even more.

KURODA Go (Aomori Yamada High School)
We didn’t play badly in the first half, but in the second half we kept our line backwards against the opponent’s attack from the sides. We showed our weakness, which we’ve been working on since spring. Also I became keenly aware of the level of the Premier League without any careless mistakes. Due to the heat, the players couldn’t keep their concentration enough and sometimes couldn’t play as they were supposed to. We must run a lot, as we haven’t got any distinct players with special skills. I’d like to tell the players to play each and every movement with care and how essential stamina can be.

HIROSUE Riku (Aomori Yamada High School)
I expected that we might be pressed, as each Ichiritsu Funabashi player has high individual skills. We ended up conceding goals because our defensive line gradually drew backwards. We might not have been on our guard enough, as we won three consecutive matches before. We lost our pace mentally by conceding the first goal for the first time. Personally, I’m really frustrated. If I had saved more shots, the match would have moved in a different way. Having said that, more matches are coming in the league. So I’d like to learn from our loss and play better in the next match.

Other results

JFA Academy Fukushima  0-3 (1st 0-0,2nd 0-3)  Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa
Kashiwa Reysol U-18  1-1 (1st 1-0,2nd 0-1） F.C. Tokyo U-18
Shimizu S-pulse Youth  1-0 (1st 0-0,2nd 1-0） Consadole Sapporo U-18
Omiya Ardija Youth   1-1(1st 0-0, 2nd 1-1）Kashima Antlers Youth

Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Chiba), who scored three goals in the second half, beat JFA Academy Fukushima (Shizuoka) and delivered their first victory in the league. Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) played out a 1-1 draw with F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo). SATO Ryo from F.C. Tokyo is emerging as top scorer this season so far with his goals in the three consecutive matches. Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) won against Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Hokkaido) with MOCHIZUKI Riku’s deciding goal. Although Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) ended in a 1-1 draw with Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama), ending their winning streak of three matches from the opening game, they are still in the lead, ahead of Ichiritsu Funabash on goal difference.