The 18th sec. of the Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League 2022 EAST took place on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October. In Chiba, Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School (Chiba) welcomed their rival from the All Japan High School Athletic Federation, Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori), to their home field.

Featured Match

Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School 1-1 (1-0, 0-1) Aomori Yamada High School

As Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa’s coach ENOMOTO Masahiro later reflected, “We played very well in the first half,” while Aomori Yamada’s coach KURODA Go mentioned, “We were able to dominate our opponents in the second half,” the two halves turned out completely differently in this intense match.

The match started with Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa taking the initiative, as Aomori Yamada’s KOMINATO Tsuna (#10) later reflected, “Some of the players were intimidated and overwhelmed by the away atmosphere.”

In the 22nd minute, Kominato connected with a cross delivered by KOYANAGI Itto (#8) to threaten the Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa goal, but it was the home side who opened the action. The goal came in the 32nd minute, when KANNO Koki (#44) responded to a through ball delivered by TAKEHARA Shin (#10) and fired a shot off the post, allowing OHORI Shuto (#9) to convert the deflection.

In efforts to change the dynamics of the match, Aomori Yamada made three changes during halftime, as Kominato later revealed, “Our coach got us fired up with his pep talk.” With the players regaining their usual form, the Aomori side started to take control over the match through their simple but sharp passing and set pieces in the second half.

“He fought very well,” said coach Enomoto, regarding SHIOKAWA Harumichi (#41), who was newly appointed as the defensive midfielder for this match, as the second year midfielder played tenaciously to keep Aomori Yamada from scoring. As OKAWA Kafu (#2) of Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa recalled, “It was like a game you would see at the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament,” tension rose as if it were a cup final, but it was Aomori Yamada’s persistency that prevailed in the end.

The equaliser came during additional time, when NISHIWAKI Kotaro (#3) converted the loose ball in a goalmouth scramble, a goal in which Okawa mentioned, “Aomori Yamada were committed to their plays in the final third.”

With momentum on their side, KAWAHARA Ryosuke (#17) connected with the cross sent by NARAOKA Kenshin (#11) to threaten the Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa goal, but this final play of the match missed wide of the target, as the two high school powerhouses settled with a point apiece in this highly intense match.

Coaches and Players' Comments

ENOMOTO Masahiro, Coach (Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School)
We played very well in the first half but played too passively once the opponents gained momentum in the second half. That pretty much sums up the match. There were ways to fend off the pressure, but we weren’t experienced enough to execute it during the match. However, considering the way the match went in the second half, we should be happy that we managed to walk away with a draw.

DF #2 OKAWA Kafu (Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School)
The second half was really tough. It would have been ideal if we could have continued to play the way we did in the first half, but the opponents made changes in the second half, and we seemed to lose our rhythm after Takehara was subbed off. We are seeing more and more players being brought up, but they are players who have played in the Prince League and the first division of the prefecture league, so I am sure they can adapt quickly.

KURODA Go, Coach (Aomori Yamada High School)
We are competing in a league, so a point means a lot. We were able to increase our ball possession to dominate the second half, so we are satisfied with this result. We have not been able to settle for a fixed line-up this season, but that shows that we are getting to the point where we can compete regardless of who is on the pitch.

FW #10 KOMINATO Tsuna (Aomori Yamada High School)
I was given the armband because TAKUSHIMA was out with an injury, so I was determined to take the leadership in this match. We managed to contain our opponents and create lots of chances in the second half, but we need to be able to do that from the first half.

Results of other matches

Kiryu Daiichi High School 1-5 (0-0, 1-5) Maebashi Ikuei High School
Kawasaki Frontale U-18 2-0 (0-0, 2-0) Yokohama FC Youth
Funabashi Municipal High School 0-2 (0-1, 0-1) FC Tokyo U-18
Kashiwa Reysol U-18  postponed  Omiya Ardija U18
Yokohama F.Marinos Youth 2-3 (0-2, 2-1) JFA Academy Fukushima

After a scoreless first half, Maebashi Ikuei High School (Gunma) scored five goals in the second half to beat their prefectural rival Kiryu Daiichi High School (Gunma) 5-1. Kawasaki Frontale U-18 (Kanagawa) defeated Yokohama FC Youth (Kanagawa) 2-0 thanks to the goals of OKANOICHI Kyohei (#11) and GOKITA Kishin (#9). Led by the brace of KUMATA Naoki (#11), FC Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) earned three points off of Funabashi Municipal High School (Chiba). JFA Academy Fukushima (Shizuoka) took an early two goal lead against Yokohama F.Marinos Youth (Kanagawa) to earn their first win in four matches. The match between Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) and Omiya Ardija U18 (Saitama) was postponed.

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Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League 2022

League Duration: Sat. 2 April - Sun. 4 December 2022

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