Pick-up Match

Kashima Antlers Youth   0-0 (0-0, 0-0)   Aomori Yamada High School

The 7th Sec. of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST took place on 2-3 July. At the Kashima Soccer Stadium on 3 July, Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) played Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori).

From the beginning, both teams battled intensively; Kashima’s consistent defence tackled against Aomori Yamada’s intense attack made by TAKAHASHI Issei and GOUKE Yuta. Kashima’s defender IMURA Ryosuke kept sticking close to Aomori Yamada’s Takahashi to limit his opportunities as the team’s key attacker. “In the 1st half I couldn’t move as I wanted due to the intense defence”, said Takahashi after the match. Aomori Yamada had a difficult time that they couldn’t build up their offence. 

They continued to activate their offence by left back player MIKUNI Suteibia Ebusu’s overlapping play and in the 40th minute, Aomori Yamada could eventually get a free kick from the left; Mikuni headed Takahashi’s free kick, but the ball only hit one of defenders and he couldn’t score. 

The second half started 0-0 and this seesaw match continued. Kashima’s defence remained consistent based on goalkeeper OKI Yuya, centre back MATSUURA Koyo, and Imura, whereas Aomori Yamada brought on striker NARUMI Akito as a substitute to strengthen their offence. 

Kashima on the other hand tried to find any chance to score from quick counter attacks, but they could not make any successful shots in front of the Aomori Yamada’s goalkeeper HIROSUE Riku who defended a wide area of the goal. 

The match didn’t move and ended 0-0. As a result both teams got 1 point. After the match, Aomori Yamada’s Coach KURODA Go commented: “In this Premier League, we can’t win if we concede many goals. How many we can score at good chances while we defend well is important. When our finishing accuracy is low, we end up with the result like this.” Since the top team Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) lost against Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama) 0-1, it was the chance for Aomori Yamada to take over the top, but it didn’t happen. 

Meanwhile, Kashima’s captain MATSUURA Koyo reflected the match: “we can say that we have grown up by the fact that we could keep a clean sheet today, but it is definitely our issue that we could not win.” Just like last year, the team is consistent in defence, however they have scored only 7 goals in the past 7 matches; the issue for them is to score more goals. 

Coach and Players' Comments

MATSUURA Koyo (Kashima Antlers Youth)
Today, set pieces were important for both teams, but we couldn’t score at all. In the beginning of the season, we have paid attention to conceding fewer goals and we have made a good start in the recent 2 matches and it was good for us that we could finish the 1st half keeping a clean sheet. However, what we have to do is to win. I feel that the team’s condition has been better and better, so we want to improve ourselves more to win the match finally after a seesaw game. 

KURODA Go, Coach (Aomori Yamada High School)
Kashima was strong. I knew that we would lose the match once we concede a goal. We couldn’t score even after some chances and in the last 15 minutes, we just lost the motivation to score due to the fear of conceding a goal. Our key offence player Takahashi struggled with intense defence, but I want him to be better at dealing with this type of constant defence to play at a higher level. Our goalkeeper Hirosue did a good job being inspired strongly by the news that the team’s OB KUSHIBIKI Masatoshi has been called up for the squad members for the Olympics. 

TAKAHASHI Issei (Aomori Yamada High School)
Kashima’s Imura stuck to me so consistently but even in this situation I had to draw the ball and make shots more. I felt that I have to work on my issues more in my daily training. Being No. 10 hasn’t been a burden to me, but I had to play well to lead the team for the victory in this type of difficult match. I want to do the best job as a No. 10 player. 

HIROSUE Riku (Aomori Yamada High School)
It was good that we could keep a clean sheet but we wanted to win this match. I needed longer time to get used to this hot temperature today. It is a big thing for us that our defence has been more settled recently, and we want to improve it more. I am very happy about the news that our OB Kushibiki was called up to be a squad member of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. I want to be the squad player in the future. I want to improve my play more in this team. 

Other Matches

Yokohama F・Marinos Youth   3-2 (0-1, 3-1)   F.C. Tokyo U-18
Ichiritsu Funabashi High School   0-1 (0-0, 0-1)   Omiya Ardija Youth
Albirex Niigata U-18   2-2 (1-1, 1-1)   Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School
Kashiwa Reysol U-18   0-1 (0-0, 0-1)   Shimizu S-pulse Youth

Yokohama F・Marinos Youth (Kanagawa) turned around the match after coming from behind against F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) with goals from players such as TSUBAKI Naoki. 

The top team Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Funabashi) lost the match to Omiya’s OGASHIWA Tsuyoshi’s goal, but can keep its position since Aomori Yamada drew their match. 

Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Chiba) who has been in a negative condition losing all 6 matches, drew against Albirex Niigata U-18 (Niigata) away match, and they could finally get their first point this season. 

Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) beat Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) through MOCHIZUKI Riku’s goal in the additional time of the 2nd half. Shimizu has been in 4th place with 3 points less than the top team. In this Sec., all 3 top teams of the Premier League EAST couldn’t win. The 6 top teams from Ichiritsu Funabashi to Omiya have played against each other with only 4 points separating them all. 

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