AFC U-14 Girls' Regional Championship 2014 [East region]
Saturday 31 May 2014  Kick-off at 5 pm local time 35 minutes
China National Football Training Centre (Beijing, China)

U-14 Japan Girls National Team　1 - 2（1st 1-1、2nd 0-1）　U-14 D.P.R.Korea Girls National Team

Scores
22min  KUTUWADA Ayumi（U-14 Japan Girls National Team）
25min Goal Against（U-14 D.P.R.Korea Girls National Team）
45min Goal Against（U-14 D.P.R.Korea Girls National Team）

Starters
GK：INO Maya
DF：SHIBAYAMA Fumina、AOKI Haruka、NEZU Makoto、ENDO Jun
MF：TAMURA Suzuka、YAMADA Hikari、 TOGAWA Yuki、DOHI Honoka、 KUTUWADA Ayumi
FW：MIURA Haruka

Substitutes
GK：YAMASHITA Rina
DF：INOUE Moe、TAKEDA Asumi
MF：MAKI Haruka、NAKAMURA Moe
FW：HAYASHI Suzuka、HARA Miina

HT　DOHI Honoka　→　NAKAMURA Moe
58分　ENDO Jun　→　TAKEDA Asumi
64分　MIURA Haruka　→　HARA Miina

Match Report

The second match for Japan squad was against D.P.R.Korea Girls National Team, characterized by playing with speed and power. Fighting hard and not hesitating to make a charge against D.P.R.Korea players of bigger body, from the beginning of the first half, the Japan squad kept control of the game by putting pressure for the ball and acquiring the ball one step ahead of opponents in aggressive defense. The squad scored opening goal in 22 minutes into first half by using the technique and exchanging the accurate pass. The first half was over after D.P.R.Korea broke the side of Japan defense and scored equalising goal.

In the second half, D.P.R.Korea U-14 Girls National Team began to control the game and making attack using a long ball and early cross, putting bigger pressure in front lines and capturing the even ball. On the other hand, Japan squad has been losing the ball more than ever, forced to focused on defense with the defense line backing off and was scored against by their middle shoot. Japan had set up some chances but the game was over with no additional goal.

But there were many things we can learn from this game. We had first-hand experience of something we don’t face in Japan and realized its importance including how do you play with physically stronger players, hard-fighting for capturing the ball, quality of techniques under pressure. There is no doubt about this is going to be a valuable asset for the players in the future.

Comments

INO Maya (Saitama Prefecture:Urawa Reds Ladies Junior Youth)
We played relatively well in the beginning, putting early pressure while communicating in a loud voice, not allowing the opponent players to play as they like, making sure who should mark the each player. But we lost our concentration toward the end of second half, lost control of goal kick and punt kick.
We just keep on doing something went well, overcome the problems for playing against D.P.R.Korea again in the final and determined to win the championship.

NEZU Makoto (Fukushima Prefecture: JFA Academy Fukushima)
Second game in the championship today was against physically-strong D.P.R.Korea. I couldn’t play as I like because of fast pressing of the opponent. But we managed to score opening goal by attacking into opponent’s ground with fast exchange of passes. Eventually we ended up in allowing two goals by D.P.R.Korea, the players were superior at controlling the ball in flight and has powerful kick.
As we had some positive outcomes but we found a lot of things to improve, we will improve ourselves for winning the next match.

KUTUWADA Ayumi (Saitama Prefecture: Urawa Reds Ladies Junior Youth)
It was frustrating to lose the game 1 to 2. It was good we could play well considering D.P.R.Korea Girls National Players have strong momentum. It was great we scored goal taking advantage of the scoring opportunity.
But they tied the score and went ahead of us 1 to 2. I am going to watch out the next time I play with them, especially their strong points; strong at set play, speed, physically-strong. It was disappointing today but I am determined to change my mood, definitely win tomorrow and move on to the next match.