Pick-up Match
Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School

The Matchday 9 of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST will take place on 17 July. One of the highlight matches of this section is Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa vs. Ichiritsu Funabashi High School. Both of them are from Chiba and they have had countless exciting matches before. 

Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa play at home this time, have currently changed their style from possession orientated football to “speedy play in offence and defence”, according to the team’s Coach HONDA Yuichiro. This resulted in scoring fewer goals due to lack of detailed play to be speedy. While they are demanded to be very fit, they ended up conceding goals towards the end of matches and could not win. As a result, they have kept losing 6 matches. However, the team’s Coach Honda says: “I already knew all the missing factors which prevented us from winning.”

During the interval time, the team corrected their issues and beat Ichiritsu Funabashi in the extra time of the final match of the prefectural qualifier for the Inter-High School Championship. In the first match after the interval of this competition, they beat Albirex Niigata U-18 and it was their first victory of this season. In the previous section, they beat Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) keeping a clean sheet and the team seem to get momentum again. “The next match against Ichiritsu Funabashi is a part of our series of challenges to overcome our existing issues”, says Honda. They will try to keep their level of play. 

On the other hand, Ichiritsu Funabashi was previously on top and kept good condition, however they have lost their recent 2 matches. The team’s Coach ASAOKA Ryuzo talked about one of the reasons: “They might be over confident; they could qualify for the Inter-High School Championship easily and they continued to win by beating Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka). Since then, they seem not to be aggressive any more. ”

This time, their motivation can be automatically turned on since Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa is their big rival. The team’s captain SUGIOKA Daiki mentioned the important things for this match: “If we can keep our level of play, moving the ball around well. Stealing the ball at intense moments will change the situation.”

Which team will win and go back to the further matches of the Inter-High School Championship? The exciting match will kick off at 11:00.

Coach and Players' Comments

HONDA Yuichiro, Coach (Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa)
We have pressure since we are in the dangerous position of relegation, but the team’s condition has improved. There were many matches that they could have won considering the level of their play and I wasn’t really worried. I am expecting them to grow up as players more. Considering the timing before the Inter-High School Championship, playing against Ichiritsu Funabashi now is not easy for us. I think they may be feeling same, but what staff members can do for the players is not to get nervous. They have changed so I want them to be more confident by beating them this time. 

SEKI Yamato (Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa)
I hope we can keep a clean sheet again by our strong press defence from front line. Other keys will be staying fit throughout 90 minutes and becoming advantageous in set pieces. Personally, I want to keep encouraging my teammates by playing passionately. If we can get the ball and counterattack, we should have more chance to win. This is a good chance for us to play against a strong team like Ichiritsu Funabashi in the Premier League, so we want to keep our level of play. 

ASAOKA Ryuzo, Coach (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
The important point of the next match against Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa will be how we can break through their intense pressing defence. It will be good if we can break them from the front and keep moving the ball. Set pieces will also be an important key. We have been in a higher position than Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa in this Premier League, but they beat us in the recent match of the prefectural qualifier of the Inter High 1-0. I want the players to accept this fact and play as challengers this time. Since they didn’t lose any matches before the break, the players might be over confident. Now I want them to have a fresh passion to win. 

SUGIOKA Daiki (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
Our strength is good combination in stealing the ball. If we reflect the previous successful matches, we stole the ball many times with a good combination. I want the team to be the strongest of the Premier League in defence with the best ability in stealing the ball and to win the title. For this, each of us has to work hard with responsibility. In this Premier League, we can play seriously against U-18 top teams hence I am excited every week. Like professional players, we have to get ready well for the Premier League matches on weekends; we want to be able to manage our condition well. 

Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Date: Sun. 17 July　kick-off 11:00
Venue: Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School
Access: 12 minutes’ walk from “Kashiwanoha Park” of Tobu Bus
East exit of “Edogawa dai” of Tobu Noda line and take Tobu Bus. Get off at the bus stop “Ryuukeidai Kashiwa High School mae” 

Premier League EAST Match Day 9

7/17
11:00   Kashima Antlers Youth vs Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Kashima Soccer Stadium)
11:00   F.C. Tokyo U-18 vs Albirex Niigata U-18 (F.C. Tokyo Kodaira Ground)
11:00   Aomori Yamada High School vs Yokohama F・Marinos Youth (Aomori Yamada High School)
16:00   Kashiwa Reysol U-18 vs Omiya Ardija Youth (Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Ground)

Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki), who are currently in the 7th place, will play against Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) who are in the 5th place. If they beat Shimizu they are able to go to a higher position. 

F.C. Tokyo U-18 has not won yet after the break with 1 draw and 2 defeats. They will face Albirex Niigata U-18 (Niigata). This is the important match also for Niigata since they are in 9th place. 

Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori), who haven’t lost home matches in this season will play against Yokohama F・Marinos Youth and try to go on the top instead of them.

Kashiwa Reysol U-18(Chiba), who have lost the previous 2 matches 1-0 will play against Omiya Ardija Youth. They are expected to play consistently against the team who are in good form. 

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Match Day 8 Digest

More information