U-15 Japan National Team　vs　U-15 Norway National Team
2016-4-24 (Sun.) - 14:00　Playing Time: 70min. (35min.×2)
Klagenfurt (Austria)

U-15 Japan National Team　4-3 (1-2, 3-1)　U-15 Norway National Team

Scores
2'　KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior (U-15 Japan National Team)
13'　Goal against (U-15 Norway National Team)
25'　Goal against (U-15 Norway National Team)
37'　YAMAZAKI Ryosuke (U-15 Japan National Team)
69'　NISHIKAWA Jun (U-15 Japan National Team)
70'　Goal against (U-15 Norway National Team)
70＋2'　KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior (U-15 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
GK: SUZUKI Zion
DF: ENDO Kaito, KANO Kanato, NISHIO Ryuya, ISHIDA Ryotaro
MF: YAMASAKI Taichi, MESHINO Soma, YAMADA Fuki, ODA Yutaro
FW: KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior, YAMAZAKI Ryosuke

Substitutes
GK: TAKAYAMA Shioki
DF: KUMADA Shuto, IWAI Ryuji, INOUE Miki
MF: YAMAMOTO Rihito, SEHATA Gijo, MATSUMOTO Nagi
FW: BROWNE Noah Kenshin, NISHIKAWA Jun

HT　YAMADA Fuki → MATSUMOTO Nagi
HT　ENDO Kaito → IWAI Ryuji
55'　ISHIDA Ryotaro → KUMADA Shuto
55'　ODA Yutaro → YAMAMOTO Rihito
62'　YAMAZAKI Ryosuke → NISHIKAWA Jun

Match Report

The U-15 Japan National Team won the first game in the 13th Delle Nazioni Tournament 4-3 against the U-15 Norway National Team on 24 April.

Japan attacked aggressively from the beginning of the match, creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities. In the second minute, the midfielder ODA Yutaro received the ball on the right side and sent a cross to the forward KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior, who reacted to it calmly to strike the opener. Although Japan continued to steal the ball with some fast-paced pressure up front, the team could not add any to their tally. 

After 13 minutes, one opposing player showed off his skill to get through the right side, and send in a cross. The ball hit Japanese defender’s foot, and Japan unfortunately conceded an own goal. Then in the 25th minute, as the Japanese defensive line drew back, creating a disadvantage in numbers, the opponent once again got through the right side easily to take shots. The goalkeeper SUZUKI Zion punched one shot away, but the opponent eventually scored a goal to turn the game around. Japan were eager to look for more goals. The midfield YAMASAKI Taichi went close to the goal in the 29th minute, and the forward YAMAZAKI Ryosuke in the 33rd minute. However, the score stayed at 2-1 until halftime.

During halftime, the coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro gave the players some strong encouragement. The team started to attack aggressively from the beginning of the second half, just as they did in the first half. After 37 minutes, Japan earned a free kick in front of the goal. The defender IWAI Ryuji, who came off the bench, restarted swiftly to send in a cross. Although Oda’s shot was saved by the opponent’s goalkeeper, Yamasaki reacted to a loose ball and scored the equaliser. Japan continued to attack, creating more opportunities. In the 47th minute, the midfielder MESHINO Soma received the ball on the left side, and dribbled to the centre to fire a shot, only for it to go wide.

After 58 minutes, Kurihara reacted to a superb cross from the defender KUMADA Shuto with a header, but it went slightly wide. Then in the 69th minute, Meshino passed the ball to the centre, where the forward NISHIKAWA Jun received it and struck home, turning the match around. The opponent, however, pushed forward from a kick-off through the left side to once more level the game. Japan never gave up. In the second minute of injury time, the team earned a corner kick as a last opportunity. The defender NISHIO Ryuya reacted to Iwai corner kick with his head, and Kurihara headed home from height to decide the game. Japan won the match 4-3, earning a dramatic victory in their first match.

Japan will meet the U-15 Mexico National Team, who drew with Austria 3-3.

Players' Comments

DF #13  ISHIDA Ryotaro (Nagoya Grampus U15)
Positioning in today’s match was not good, which is one of our areas for improvement. We didn’t predict movements well enough, and let the opponent grab the space behind the defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities. Also, I didn’t have many chances to overlap to send a cross – my particular strength. I’d like to review our tasks by watching video of the game before the next match. The game was very dramatic during injury time, and I believe our never-give-up attitude brought us to an upset victory. We’d like to play as a united team to win another game.

MF #7  MESHINO Soma (Gamba Osaka Junior Youth)
Although we still have problems in defence, I felt over the moon that we won the first and vital game. We performed excellently at the beginning of the game to find our pace, but we let the opponent turn the game around while struggling to add more insurance. I realised that accurate scoring is a problem for us. I struck a goal in injury time. Having said that, as all of us played with real spirit, I believe we got that goal together. The atmosphere around the team got even better. We’ll play each and every match hard.

FW #9  KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior (Mitsubishi Yowa SC Sugamo Junior Youth)
I was so pleased that I could score a goal during injury time. All my teammates supported me and I believe we achieved that goal together. I was advised strictly how to move before receiving the ball or defend from up front in yesterday’s practice session, and I think I could improve on them in today’s game. I’d like to focus on taking shots whenever I turn towards the goal, cooperating with others in defence to intercept up front. We are all determined to win. As the team has become more competitive, I’d like to stay focus to perform in the rest of matches. 

Schedule

*Local time
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.