Pick-up Match

Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth　1-2 (0-1, 1-1)   Vissel Kobe U-18

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League had its matchday 5 on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 May as Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima) welcomed Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) on Sunday 8.

The fixture that wrapped up the first period of long-run league was regarded as "the important match to get involved in the title race" for Kobe, according to their coach NODA Satoru. Meanwhile, an expected starter YASUI Takuya got injured during warm-up and ended up being sidelined. The bad luck did not stop there, as DOHATA Kazuki strained his back in the 13th minute when he battled on the ball against the opponents and forced to be replaced. 

Yet the players got boosted by the accidents as Noda said, "the players got a feeling of 'got to work harder.'" As Kobe took the initiative with crisp passing moves, Kobe's MUKAI Akito netted an opening goal from a through ball by NODA Tatsuki in the 36th minute. Kobe showed full of spirit on defence as well. The Kobe's intense pressing upfront and interceptions at midfield worked well before finishing the first half with one goal up without allowing Hiroshima to take a shot.

Hiroshima, who were not able to create any chance in the first half, rallied back in the second half as KAWAMURA Takumu said, "We started passing the ball on the defensive line so that our offence could get a rhythm." In the 53rd minute, Hiroshima broke through the left side and gained a corner kick. MURAYAMA Kanji met KAWAI Ayumu's cross to level matters. Both teams sent on fresh legs to get their second goal but failed to break the deadlock. In the 71st minute, Kobe's Mukai fired a blast, but Hiroshima goalkeeper OSAKO Keisuke denied Kobe a chance to get back in front. But in the 89th minute when everyone was seeing a draw outcome, Kobe got in on a goal-scoring action again. After intercepting the ball from an opponent, Mukai dribbled into the Hiroshima end and fired a shot from the edge of the box. The ball deflected off a defender and went directly into the back of the net for Kobe's winner, which gave Kobe a 2-1 win.

Coach and Players' Comments

SAWADA Kentaro, Coach (Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth)
In the first half, we ended up sitting in our end when defending and failed to go up. We couldn't play the style of football we want. With my talk "Go up more" at halftime, the team mood got better, but our offence wasn't able to get stable until the end. We lost today's match, but my players played aggressively in the second half. There are not only negative things. The match against Oita (postponed) is coming up a week from now and we will work hard there again.

RIKIYASU Shogo (Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth)
We allowed the opponents to pick up the pace early on and finished the first half without creating our time. We worked together well on defence while being in a tough situation, but we gave up a goal at the moment when we lost concentration. That's disappointing. This year's team work hard together on both offence and defence and won the first two matches. I expected we would get confident with more wins, so today's loss is disappointing. We will refresh our mind and add up points restarting from the following match.

NODA Satoru, Coach (Vissel Kobe U-18)
We had a lot of chances for a goal but failed to convert. That made it a close game. But we played our style of football as our midfielders used different kinds of passes and created stretches to attack. And that was the best game this season in terms of how we played. From the mental side, they all won battles on the ball and ran out until the end. They did a really good job. It was like, "If you can play this way, please do it from the season opening."

TSURUTA Kaito (Vissel Kobe U-18)
The league season is going to a break after this matchday, so all the players in the team went out with a determination of "Go for a win, win it at any cost." By showing our intensity on second balls, our defence worked well so that we could grab the initiative of the game. We failed to win the first two matches but got better on matchday 3 against Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School as we could connect the ball at the defensive line. And then the team got in better form. We will work hard on everyday practice to keep the momentum even after the break.

Other Matches

Oita Trinita U-18   0-1 (0-0, 0-1)   Nagoya Grampus U18
Higashi Fukuoka High School   1-4 (0-4, 1-0)   Cerezo Osaka U-18
Gamba Osaka Youth   3-1 (3-0, 0-1)   Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18
Ozu High School   <Postpone>  Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School

Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita), who saw action for the first time since their opening match, faced Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi). After the scoreless first half, Oita allowed Nagoya's SUGITA Masahiro to score a goal in the 54th minute, ending up in a 1-0 loss.

The contest between Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) and Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) saw the Osaka side net four goals only in the first half after MATSUOKA Daichi's opener. Although Cerezo allowed a goal in the second half, they comfortably grabbed their fourth win of the season.

Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) displayed their decisiveness again, following the last match against Cerezo. Gamba beat Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) 3-1.

A match between Ozu High School (Kumamoto) and Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School (Hyogo) was postponed due to the Kumamoto Earthquake.

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