The third sec. of the Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League 2020 Kanto took place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September.

Pick-up Match

Funabashi Municipal High School 0-0 (0-0, 0-0) FC Tokyo U-18

On Sunday 27, the match between Funabashi Municipal High School (Chiba) and FC Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) took place at Funabashi. While the home team entered the match with back to back losses, FC Tokyo had won their first two matches. Despite the contrast in their records, the two teams showcased an intense battle from the early minutes of the match.

Entering the match, FC Tokyo’s TOKIWA Kyota (#5) fired-up his team by saying, “They say high school football is more intense than J youth clubs, but let’s prove them wrong!” Coach NAKAMURA Tadashi also sent off his players by mentioning, “Funabashi Municipal will fight hard for the ball and show quick transitions, but let’s overwhelm them in both of those aspects.”

On the other hand, Funabashi Municipal’s coach HATA Shugo urged his players to play patiently, as he analysed their opponent, “FC Tokyo is a strong team and they are one of the most technical teams in the Premier League. We must focus on keeping them scoreless in the first half and test their patience.” Despite allowing the club side to dominate the ball possession, he mentioned, “First half went just as we planned.” The Funabashi midfielders contributed to their defence to keep the clean sheet, as MF SAKUMA Kento (#10), who used to play for FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa, shared his aspiration towards the match, “I wanted to showcase how much I have grown as a player.”

The second half saw FC Tokyo create more opportunities, as coach Hata later reflected, “We started to run out of gas.” However, the Funabashi defence displayed tenacious efforts to defend their goal, inducing mistakes from the FC Tokyo offence, as Tokiwa later commented, “We lacked quality in our shots and failed to respond to crosses. We were not committed enough to score a goal.” The heated battle ended scoreless, as both teams ended their winning and losing streaks at two.

Coaches and Players' Comments

HATA Shugo, Coach (Funabashi Municipal High School)
FC Tokyo is a very strong team and we have tons of respect for them. With our opponent controlling the ball possession, we started to run out of gas towards the end of the match but managed to showcase our tenaciousness to defend our goal, which is Funabashi Municipal’s tradition, so that was great. Our defensive performance was not bad, but we must improve the quality of our plays after winning the ball and the fifty-fifty battles.

MF #10 SAKUMA Kento (Funabashi Municipal High School)
I was facing many of the players I played with during junior high school, so I was looking forward for this match. FC Tokyo is both strong and skilful, and I consider them as the best team in the Premier League. So, the fact that we fought hard as a team to keep a clean sheet against them, gives us plenty of confidence moving forward.

NAKAMURA Tadashi, Coach (FC Tokyo U-18)
Funabashi Municipal had many players who we played with during junior high school, so we knew they were a good team. They are capable of showing great energy on the pitch, so I told my players to showcase even more energy to overwhelm them. We have played three matches against different types of teams, and each match has provided us with different learning experiences. I am extremely thankful that this league has resumed.

MF #5 TOKIWA Kyota (FC Tokyo U-18)
We lacked quality in the final third and we were not committed enough to score a goal today. Prior to this match, Sakuma and I promised each other to give our best in this match. They also had Kaneko (who also played for FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa), so it was such a blessing to be able to face my old teammates at an official match like this.

Results of other matches

Omiya Ardija U18 Postponed Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School
Kashiwa Reysol U-18 2-2 (0-1, 2-1) Yokohama F. Marinos Youth
Urawa Red Diamonds Youth 1-3 (0-0, 1-3) Yokohama FC Youth

Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) and Yokohama F. Marinos Youth (Kanagawa) shared a point apiece after Kashiwa came from behind to equalise the match twice. Despite scoring the opening goal in the 57th minute, Urawa Red Diamonds Youth (Saitama) conceded three goals to Yokohama FC Youth (Kanagawa) to give the Yokohama side the league lead. The match between Omiya Ardija U18 (Saitama)とRyutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School (Chiba) has been postponed.

Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League 2020 Kanto

League duration: Sat. 5 September - Sun. 6 December 2020

For more information
Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League official Twitter account (external link)