JFA Elite Programme U-13 Japan Women's Selection Korea trip - JOC Japan Korea Joint Sports Project for Enhancing Playing Skills -
2015-11-7 (Sat.) - 15:30　Playing Time: 70min. (35min.×2)
Mokpo International Football Centre Pitch A (Korea)

JFA Elite Programme U-13 Japan Women's Selection   0-0 (0-0, 0-0)  U-13 Korea Republic Women's National Team

Line-ups
GK: OBA Syu
DF: MATSUHISA Kanna, ABE Ayane, KATANODA Suzu, YAMAMOTO Yuzuki
MF: SHIMAMURA Mifuu, KAWAI Nonoko, TABATA Haruna, YOSIZUMI Warai
FW: KIMURA Chisa, ITO Megumi

HT   KAWAI Nonoko → KASAI Yui
43'   ITO Megumi → SHIMADA Mei
43'   KIMURA Chisa → SHIROWA Reina
50'   OBA Syu → NODA Asuka
51'   TABATA Haruna → TAKARA Kotone
60'   MATSUHISA Kanna → IMADATE Nodoka
60'   YOSIZUMI Warai → WATANABE Sakura
60'   SHIMAMURA Mifuu → HARADA Waka

Match Report

As a part of the JFA Elite Programme, U-13 Japan Women's Selection played the 1st Leg against the U-13 Korea Republic Women's National Team on Saturday 7 November on the Korea tour.

On 6 November, the following day of their arrival in Korea, the players did some stretches to recover from their journey, getting themselves ready in the morning and afternoon training sessions. During the evening meeting, they reviewed the September Imabari training camp, and the coach YODOGAWA shared the aims of this camp with them.

The players focused on practicing how to move on shots and crosses in the morning session on 7 November, on the day of the 1st Leg.

U-13 Japan Women's Selection met the U-13 Korea Republic Women's National Team for the 1st Leg in the afternoon. In the meeting prior to the match, the coach Yodogawa shared how to start the game with the players: "it’s vital to know how to start this game. If you let the opponent take the initiative at the beginning, the match goes on in the same way." He also told the players to contribute both in attack and defence throughout the game, keep the ball as you move forward, always stay ambitious for goals, intercept the ball up front, and observe the opponent’s situation well to take action, before sending them onto the pitch.

Japan kicked off under sporadic heavy rain. Korea Republic showed off their strong spirit and physical strength, while Japan played in a careful manner in order to pass the ball around. Japan gradually took the initiative. Both teams struggled to control the ball on the slippery surface. Although TABATA Haruna took long-distance shots in 15th minute and 23rd minute, both went wide. After 27 minutes, KATANODA Suzu, who reacted to a loose ball from a right corner kick, took a shot, only for it to come off the crossbar. Japan created several goal-scoring opportunities, but they could not find the back of the net.

In the second half, both team substituted several players. After 54 minutes, YOSIZUMI Warai, who ran from a left corner to near the penalty area, went close with a header. The ball hit a Korean defender and did not go into the goal. Although Japan created a few more goal-scoring opportunities, getting through to the space behind the defensive line, they were judged offside. The first match of the Korea tour ended in a draw.

Japan will hold a combined training session with Korea Republic in the morning on 8 November, and then spend the afternoon exchanging cultures in this programme.

Coach and Players' Comments

YODOGAWA Tomoharu, Coach
Most of the players have never played an international match before. The game was in harsh weather conditions. I think we started the match well, accepting the opponent’s pressure. As the players occasionally struggled under pressure, which made us get rattled in attack, it’s vital for us to get better with experience. Also we couldn’t display solid skills under pressure.

In terms of defence, it was good that we tried to intercept the ball many times. Having said that, the players could have played more strongly near the ball. We kept a clean sheet, not letting the opponent take any shots. Just like the players mentioned, that showed our concentration throughout the game. However, the players couldn’t score with their goal-scoring opportunities, which is an area to be improved. Overall, each player focused and challenged well in the match. Even I, who stayed off the pitch, felt the game went very quickly.

OBA Syu (JFA Academy Fukushima)
We were under strong pressure just after the kick-off. Korea Republic stayed vocal and had a tremendous impact. It was good that we kept a clean sheet, and that we moved forward aggressively to react to crosses, as well as passing the ball around in a careful manner. The forward players also tried hard to run to the space behind the defenders.

Our problem is that we couldn’t score through our opportunities. We felt pressed when we had the ball, and soon lost it. We enjoyed ourselves communicating with Korean players off the pitch. I’d like to play as hard as possible in the remaining three days.

Schedule