The matchday 5 contests of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League West is planned on 6 May.

The match between Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) and Riseisha High School (Osaka) will be an intensive one; both teams don’t want to lose to a high school team. In the previous match, Riseisha’s SUGAHARA Taku got 2 goals and the team showed off its sharp offense centred on Sugawara. Riseisya is expected to break throughHigashifukuoka’s defense which Riseisya ‘s NAKAMURA Kento describes as “not a high level, but well united”.

Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) is facing Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka). Oita is now in 3rd place even though this is their first experience in this league and as YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa describes their football style as “full of hard-working”, they are ready to play aggressively. Cerezo on the other hand, their physical strength is one of the advantages. “In running, I think we are better than the winner of last year” says SHOJI Honoya. The match full of the energy of both teams will definitely be exciting. 

Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) has been in a challenging situation; they have not won since the start of the league. Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) also has not got any victory yet and the team’s player TAKUNO Kairi says “If we don’t win, we can’t change the criticism we have received. We shouldn’t repeat last year’s negative experience that we couldn’t win a match in the beginning of the season”. Which team will win the points to get the encouraging chance to move up?

Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) will face against Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto) in their home ground. The players have strong sense of competitiveness in the team. “I can see that the players of our lower group are very competitive to win the internal match against the regular group”, the team’s player ICHIMARU Mizuki says. In addition to the team’s regular starting players, some substitute players are expected to play well in this match. For Kyoto Tachibana, IWASAKI Yuto who got 2 goals against them in the previous year will be the key player of this match.

【Pick up Match of West Matchday 5】
Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth VS. Vissel Kobe U-18

Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima), who got consecutive victories from the first year of this Premier League West, plays against Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) who won this league in 2013. The two previous champions are facing each other for the first time in this season. Hiroshima is competing for the victory with 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat so far, and their offense has been in a good condition, getting goals in all matches so far. “I am allowed to play freely this year, I can step back to pass the ball and I can also jump ahead” says the team’s player NAGANUMA Yoichi. He will be one of the key players to form offense and the team is expected to score as many as possible, maximising their score accuracy. Kobe has got its first victory in the previous match. “Compared to how we were last year, our skill level is lower. To cover that, we want to unite very well in the match” says YAMAKAWA Tetsushi. Their unity is the force for the team to move on.
　
■Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth VS. Vissel Kobe U-18
Date & Time：
6 May, Kick-off 11:00
Venue：
Yoshida Soccer Park　　Access
Direction：
20 minutes by taxi from JR Geibi Line “Mukaihara Station”
10 minutes from “Takata Interchange” by car
60 minutes from Hiroshima city centre by car

Premier League EAST 5th Sec.   Wed. 6 May

11:00   Higashi Fukuoka High School  vs.  Riseisha High School（Higashi Fukuoka High School）
11:00   Oita Trinita U-18  vs.  Cerezo Osaka U-18（oita-sportspark）
11:00   Nagoya Grampus U18  vs.  Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18（TOYOTA SPORTS CENTER）
11:00   Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth  vs.  Vissel Kobe U-18（Yoshida Soccer Park）
13:00   Gamba Osaka Youth  vs.  Kyoto Tachibana High School（Gamba Osaka Practice Fields）