The 39th Japan U-12 Football Championship had its quarter-finals and semi-finals on Monday 28 December in Kagoshima. The quarter-finals held at Kagoshima Prefectural Kamoike Auxiliary Field included a penalty shootout ending. The surviving four teams played in the very close semi-finals in occasional strong winds at Kamoike Athletic Stadium.

One of the quarter-finals had Futsu SSS (Ishikawa) and YF Nara Tesoro (Nara) square off against each other. Nara Tesoro were rather taking overall control of the match, but Futsu’s goalkeeper IZUMI Hayate made a good judgement in saving their goal, which ignited their attacking. Izumi’s goal-kick started a crisp ball movement and captain YASUDA Kojiro eventually put it home to open the scoring. Futsu kept the single-goal lead until the end and advanced to the semi-finals.

The battle of two Kanto region’s teams, Regista FC (Saitama) and Kashiwa Reysol U-12 (Chiba) saw Kashiwa’s dynamic ball movement and Regista’s quick defensive pressure. While both sides showed their strength fairly evenly, the match went on to a penalty shootout with the score being tied 1-1. In the shootout, Regista’s goalkeeper KANOSHIMA Yu showed good reaction to shots by Kashiwa and helped his team move ahead to the quarter-finals.

Due to the goal allowed through a set-piece, U-Sports Club (Yamanashi) fell short against Kashima Antlers Junior Youth (Ibaraki). Their coach YAMANE Yudai, however, said “the match gave us confidence because it was not that our defence got broken down. Our defence was successful in outnumbering our opponents from situation to situation, so I give credits to my players in terms of that.” Hyogo FC (Hyogo) defeated Sagan Tosu U-12 (Saga) and clinched their spot in the semi-finals.

In the first match of the semi-finals, Futsu SSS and Kashima Antlers went head to head. Early in the match, Kashima started firing shots aggressively. They also kept creating chances through a corner-kick and with their individual skills, and ITO Ryunosuke’s mid-range shot gave them the first lead. Even though they allowed Futsu to tie the match by a penalty kick, OWA Fushi made sure of Kashima’s final appearance with his go-ahead goal. Futsu tried to keep up with their opponents with counter-attacks, but they failed to score the second goal.

The second semi-final saw Regista FC’s smooth passing football. They repeatedly attacked Hyogo FC’s goal with good combinations and they scored the opening goal with YAMAZAKI Rin’s mid-range grounder. Then SHINODA Daiki extended the lead by reacting to a deflection of Yamazaki’s another shot attempt. Trailing Hyogo FC showed their aggressiveness in the second half and launched their own shots. Regista, however, held Hyogo scoreless until the finish and added another goal in the second half to seal the deal.

As a result, the final to be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday 29 at Kamoike Athletic Stadium is set as Kashima Antlers Junior Youth against Regista FC.

Players' Comments

OWA Fushi (Ibaraki/Kashima Antlers Junior Youth)
In the semi-final, I wanted to dribble forward aggressively and keep firing shots. I had scoring goals myself on my mind. The opponents were staying back a little, so (my coach) told us to shoot it from mid-range as well. (Speaking on the goal scored) I saw space between defenders and I was trying to attack there. I am happy that I helped my team win. In the final, we want to run altogether and win the championship.

KANOSHIMA Yu (Saitama/Regista FC)
(The opponents of the quarter-final) Kashiwa Reysol have good individual skills, so we knew we shouldn’t allow them to play unchecked. So our game plan was to put early pressure on them and prevent them as much as possible from playing freely. Our defence didn’t work well in the first half, but I think it did in the second half. I like playing penalty kicks, so I was confident that I would be able to stop one out of three. I am happy that my teammates made their shots. In the final, I want to play hard also on behalf of the teams who have lost to us.

YAMANAKA Jo (Nara/YF Nara Tesoro)
Offence is our strength, so we wanted to score about three goals in the first half of the quarter-final so that we would be able to control the match our way. But we allowed the opening goal and couldn’t play how we wanted. We lost in the quarter-final, but I want younger players of my team to come back to this national stage. And I want them to win the national championship that we couldn’t win.

IZUMI Hayate (Ishikawa/Futsu SSS)
We are always trying to play passing football like FC Barcelona. Today we were trying to play like that, but the way we moved the ball was too simple and only vertically. We need to correct that. It was good that I could help my team with my save. I am not good at leading by being vocal, but I want to make sure that I talk to my teammates and lead my team.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Semi-Final Regista FC (Saitama) vs Hyogo FC (Hyogo)

Semi-Final Futsu SSS (Ishikawa) vs Kashima Antlers (Ibaraki)

The 39th Japan U-12 Football Championship

Duration: Sat. 26 December - Tue. 29 December
Venue:
1st round/Round 16   Kagoshima Fureai Sports Land (Kagoshima)
Quarter-Final   Kagoshima Kamoike Auxiliary Field (Kagoshima)
Semi-Final/Final   Kagoshima Kamoike Athletic Stadium (Kagoshima)
More information