2016 SBS CUP International Youth Soccer 3rd Match vs U-19 Slovakia National Team
2016-8-14 (Sun.) - 16:00   Playing Time: 80min. (40min.×2)
Sports Park ECOPA (Fukuroi/Shizuoka)

U-19 Japan National Team   0-1 (0-0, 0-1)   U-19 Slovakia National Team

Score
43'   Goal against (U-19 Slovakia National Team)

Line-ups
GK: KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF: HASEGAWA Takumi, HAMA Taiyo, SUGIOKA Daiki, KOGA Taiyo
MF: SUGA Daiki, HARA Teruki, HARIGAYA Takeaki, YASUI Takuya
FW: IWASAKI Yuto, YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa

Substitutes
GK: HIROSUE Riku
DF: NISHIMOTO Takanobu
MF: KAJIYAMA Kanta, NODA Kazuki, TAKAHASHI Issei
FW: NAKAMURA Shunta, TAGAWA Kyosuke

HT   KOJIMA Ryosuke → HIROSUE Riku
HT   YASUI Takuya → NODA Kazuki
67'   YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa → KAJIYAMA Kanta
71'   HARA Teruki → TAKAHASHI Issei
78'   KOGA Taiyo → NISHIMOTO Takanobu

Match Report

The U-19 Japan National Team played the final game of SBS CUP International Youth Soccer against the U-19 Slovakia National Team.

As Japan were determined to finish the cup with a win in the final game, the team pressed hard in the opponents’ area in the first half to intercept and initiate attacks. Despite the well-collaborated attack, providing the ball to players finding open space and breaking free of the defenders, they lacked accuracy in their final pass and were unable to create goal-scoring opportunities. The game ended scoreless in the first half. 

In the 43rd minute, shortly after the second half started, Slovakia sent a cross in front of the goal from a free kick. The goalkeeper punched the ball away, but Slovakia reacted to it and struck the opener.

In attempt to equalise, Japan attacked aggressively from the sides, but the team could not find the back of the net against a solid Slovakian defence. The score stayed 1-0 until the final whistle. Japan regretfully finished the SBS CUP without a win.

Results

Coach and Players' Comments

UCHIYAMA Atsushi, Coach
It was a frustrating championship. Having said that, the players, many of whom were selected for the first time, put in a great performance. So I believe we were able to raise the level of the U-19 Japan National Team through the SBS CUP. However, the quality of play while in possession of the ball was not great throughout the three games. Therefore, we need to stay focused in our everyday practices, thinking about the real matches. We’d like to prepare ourselves well for the AFC U-19 Championship in October.

FW #9  YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa (Oita Trinita)
We played the last match of the SBS CUP against Slovakia today. We sustained possession fairly well from the first half, but we made many careless mistakes in front of goal and failed to create goal-scoring opportunities. We conceded a goal in the second half through a set piece, which was exactly what the opponents were aiming to do. I only scored one goal in the three games of this championship. Taking back this experience to my club team, I’d like to improve more.

MF #10  IWASAKI Yuto (Kyoto Tachibana High School)
We lost to Slovakia 1-0 in the final game of the Cup today. We could not win a single match in this cup and finished bottom, which was a really poor result. We expected that Slovakia would defend solidly in front of goal. However, we struggled even to take shots due to a lack of accuracy in our play. To beat this kind of opponents, we truly need to focus more on details. We need to check on positioning and timing of each and every play, while improving the accuracy of shots. As we learned our strengths and weaknesses more clearly through today’s game, I’d like to work on those back at my club.

Schedule

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