AFC U-14 Girls' Regional Championship East 2016/Semi-Final vs U-14 Chinese Taipei Women’s National Team
2016-5-21 (Sat.) - 17:00   Playing Time: 70min. (35min.×2)
National Football Training Centre Pitch 5 (China/Beijing)

U-14 Japan Women's Selection　5-0 (3-0, 2-0)　U-14 Chinese Taipei Women’s National Team

Scores
10'　KAWAMOTO Sae (U-14 Japan Women's Selection team)
16'　SHIROWA Reina (U-14 Japan Women's Selection team)
23'　ITO Megumi (U-14 Japan Women's Selection team)
42'　SHIMADA Mei (U-14 Japan Women's Selection team)
70+1'　KIMURA Chisa (U-14 Japan Women's Selection team)

Line-ups
GK: TAKESHITA Kanasa
DF: IMADATE Nodoka, KAWAGISHI Emika, TABATA Haruna, MATSUHISA Kanna
MF: KAWAMOTO Sae, ABE Ayane, FUCHIGAMI Nonoka, YOSHIZUMI Warai
FW: ITO Megumi, SHIROWA Reina

Substitutes
GK: OBA Shu
FP: SHIMADA Mei, NOGUCHI Akari, KIMURA Chisa, KASAI Yui, KATANODA Suzu, TAKARA Kotone

HT　ITO Megumi → KIMURA Chisa
HT　SHIROWA Reina → SHIMADA Mei
45'　FUCHIGAMI Nonoka → TAKARA Kotone
50'　TABATA Haruna → KASAI Yui
59'　MATSUHISA Kanna → NOGUCHI Akari
66'　YOSHIZUMI Warai → KATANODA Suzu

Match Report

After a day off, U-14 Japan Women’s Selection team played against Chinese Taipei in the semi-final. Chinese Taipei is regarded as a tough team because of their strong offence and they came through the group stage as the second-placed with a total of 20 goals in the three matches. They scored a goal even against DPR Korea.

Chinese Taipei kicked off the match, and Japan started attacking from the beginning; in the 1st minute, SHIROWA Reina (JFA Academy Fukushima), in the 2nd minute, YOSHIZUMI Warai (Cerezo Osaka Sakai Girls), and right after that, Shirowa had chances to make shots, but none of them found the net. Chinese Taipei had a firm defence from the front line, hence Japan couldn’t move the ball around with good rhythm.

In the 10th minute, ITO Megumi (JFA Academy Fukushima) stole the ball on the right wing deep in the opponent’s half and crossed to Shirowa in front of the goal, whose shot went past the goal post and back to the left side, where KAWAMOTO Sae (EhimeFCLadies MIKAN) moved on to the ball to push it in to the net. Japan got the opening goal.

After the first goal, Shirowa and Ito scored additional goals in the 16th and the 23rd minute. Even though the first half ended with Japan’s lead 3-0, the team’s Coach YODOKAWA gave the players a pep talk since how they had managed the game was not how they were expected.

In the 2nd half, Japan gradually got rhythm such as making direct passes, and in the 42nd minute SHIMADA Mei (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Junior Youth), who was brought on as a substitute for Shirowa, smashed a shot despite being surrounded by opponent defenders, and the shot successfully hit the net. At the end part of the match, Japan got many corner kicks; NOGUCHI Akari (JEF UNITED ICHIHARA CHIBA LADIES U-15) kicked the corner kicks but none of them contributed to any additional goals.

In the additional time, Japan got another corner kick from the right side. Reacting to the corner kick taken by Noguchi, KIMURA Chisa (OKAYAMA YUNOGO BELLE U‐15・U‐18) fired in a volley shot from far post. The match ended. Japan beat Chinese Taipei 5-0.

Japan will face DPR Korea in the final on 22 May. DPR Korea utterly beat Korea Republic 5-0 in the semi final. Japan is expected to beat them this time after the defeat 2-1 in the final of this competition 2 years ago.

Assistant Coach Comment

KANO Michihisa (JFA National Training Centre Coach/SAGAWA SHIGA FC)
After the group stage, we used the one day off to improve the issues we found in the past three matches and to adjust the players’ physical condition. From this stage, the competition style shifted to a tournament, so our players were nervous. To begin the final stage, we checked what we have to do were we keep working hard to improve ourselves throughout this experience, and carry on doing what we have to do. We also raised a theme that we all, including the 18 players and staff, do our best of best to go through to the final.

As a result, we could win the match, yet there isn’t any end to chasing better techniques and improving pass and control, moving with clear ideas, pass speed on natural turf, and controlling the ball accurately while moving are the issues for us. Tomorrow, we are facing DPR Korea in the final. We will do our best again to show off everything we have done to be the champion as a team.

Players' Comments

FP #9  KIMURA Chisa (OKAYAMA YUNOGO BELLE U‐15・U‐18)
What I was trying to do was to score any goal and to give strong pressure against Chinese Taipei from the front line. Since I scored in the match against the Northern Mariana Islands, I had not scored any goal so I was eager to get a goal in today’s match. I was very happy that I could score a goal from my volley shot.

In defence, I could make faster pressure predicting what would happen next. Yet I couldn’t score when I should have done, and I should have had more eagerness to go up to the front. Tomorrow, I will pay attention to these issues found in today’s match. We will play against DPR Korea tomorrow. We have kept a clean sheet in this competition, so we want to get the victory without conceding any goals, encouraging and coaching each other well on the pitch. I will play with all of my strength to take the gold medal to Japan.

FP #11  SHIMADA Mei (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Junior Youth)
Our offence aim in this semi-final match was to score earlier in the match to take control. In defence, we aimed to keep a compact defence form and steal the ball by our consistent defence from the front line. I played from the beginning of the 2nd half, and I could score a goal. Since my personal aims in this match were: press defence from front line, stealing the ball, and scoring, so it was good that I could achieve all of these aims. When I scored, I was surrounded by two opponent players, but aimed at the left side of the goalkeeper.

What I could do today was breaking the middle using direct passing, and stealing the ball at the right moment when the ball left the opponent player’s foot. It’s the final tomorrow. DPR Korea has technique, power, and speed. As a team we will play with a sense of responsibility and we never want to lose in any intense moments. I want to win and share the joy with my teammates!

GK #22  TAKESHITA Kanasa (INAC KOBE LEONESSA U-15)
What I was aiming at in this match was to keep our level of play without conceding any goals. What I could do today was making punt kicks and coaching from behind, they were the ones I practiced in the morning training. What I couldn’t do was that I couldn’t go to front well since I paid too match attention to coaching on how to create the wall at the free kick. I need to be able to make quicker coaching and prepare myself, so I will improve this in the upcoming matches and in training.

There were achievements and issues found in the match, but after all it was good that we can go through to the final without conceding any goals. What I have learned from my first trip abroad, is that the basics are very important. I will keep working hard for basic training.

Schedule

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