The one-match battle between the champions of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League’s EAST and WEST is going to be held at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Saturday 12 December.

The team coming out from the EAST division is Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki). After competing fiercely to be the division champions against Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori), Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) and Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama), they finally outplayed the rivals and clinched the title on the final matchday.

Their trademark trait is their tenacity that other teams’ coaches and players praise as "very hard to find in J.League clubs’ underage teams." According to Kashima’s TODA Takumi, playing hard on the ball and never giving up are "ordinary things that are supposed to be done for you to win," and they make sure to execute them in every match. Out of the 18 contests they played in the EAST division, they won nine by only one goal. The records certainly shows their characteristics.

Not only their mental approach, but Kashima are equipped also with outstanding skills as well. Every position on the squad lists unique talents such as MACHIDA Koki who is on the U-18 Japan National Team shortlisted squad, set-piece specialist HIRATO Taiki, and KAKITA Yuki, who serves as a target up front for feeds and crosses. Each one of them is also committed to the team’s win. Coach KUMAGAI Koji speaks of the big match ahead, saying "we have survived very tough ones. There was no match where we could go easy on ourselves. I hope that will work as an advantage for us."

On the other hand, the WEST champions Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka), who cemented their championship with one more matchday remaining, have supreme confidence in their offensive firepower which has tallied 2.5 goals per contest. Even though they lost two straight matches on the 11th and 12th matchdays, they came back and showed their dominance by winning the next six. 

Gamba’s offence that capitalise on quick short passes to break down defence centres on DOAN Ritsu. While he has already made his top-league debut, his creativity and ball control skills which are unique to lefties allowed him to score a goal against Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) on the 17th matchday when Gamba sealed the WEST title and three goals against Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) on the last matchday. He certainly can get involved in scoring goals as well as controlling the midfield.

Their frontline has a variety of talents as well including quick-footed TAKAGI Akito who scored the second most goals (14) in the league last year and TAKEDA Taichi whose soaring height makes players around him better. Gamba are capable of scoring in many different ways.

The late improvement of their defence is also a bright spot, as they have conceded only two goals in the six matches since the matchday 13. Originally their defensive style was always trying to rob it back aggressively after losing the ball. In the last few matches, however, they showed that they can stay back in their end and defend according to how opponents attack. Coach UMEZU Hironari confidently says of the players’ growth, "We are now being able to stay calm and be patient in dealing with the situation, even when it is not favourable for us."

Both Kashima and Gamba Osaka finished their eight-month-long season victoriously in the eastern and western Japan. Which team gets the last and biggest laugh is a must-see for fans. 

"The 2nd Prince Takamado Trophy Premier League Best Goal Campaign" is now going on! (Japanese version only)

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Youth (U-18) Football League Championship

Sat.12 December  Saitama Stadium 2002
Kashima Antlers Youth (Premier League EAST Champion) vs Gamba Osaka Youth (Premier League WEST Champion)
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