The 1st All Japan Youth Futsal Championship presented by BallBall, it was second day of the event on Fri. 29 August and 12 games were held to decide eight teams qualify for the final round.

Al the top teams of four groups - Nagoya Oceans U-18 (Tokai 1/Aichi), Thank FC Kuriyama U-18 (Hokkaido 1), Yasu High School Soccer Club (Kansai 2/Shiga), Teikyo Nagaoka High School Soccer Club (Kitashinetsu/Niigata), won three straight games for the top spot. But the battles for winning the second place were very tight.

In group A, Miyazaki Industrial High School Soccer Club (Kyushu 2/Miyazaki), Seiwa Gakuen FC (Tohoku 1/Miyagi), FC Makuhari (Kanto 2/Chiba) - three clubs engaged in three-way battles. As FC Makuharri, earning three points in three games, watching the game, there was direct match between Miyazaki Industrial High School with three points and Seiwa Gakuen with no points. Miyazaki Industrial has to win or draw while Seiwa FC has to win at least three goal margin in order to break through the first round and FC Makuhari would win on any other conditions. Seiwa FC scored three goals in first half. Miyazaki Industrial mounted the offense in second half but Seiwa FC get away the game and earned ticket for the final round.

In group C, it was another tensed seesaw game for second place between Fujii Gakuen Sangawa High School Football Club (Shikoku/Kagawa) and Seiwa Gakkuen SC (Tohoku 2/Miyagi). Both sides were at level and hard to tell which team will be winning, first half was ended with Seiwa SC leading by one goal. But Sangawa, equalized soon after second half, Sangawa started to dominate the game and scored go-ahead goal before adding two more goals for come-from-behind finish. Sangawa won the game 6-4. Kodama Naoki of Sangawa demonstrated his skills of decisive play scoring 12 goals in three games of first round.

Sakuyo High School (Chugoku/Okayama) in group B and Clark Memorial International High School (Kansai 1/Hyogo) also won the hard-battled matches to secure second place for last eight. The finalist will be determined on Sat. 30 August, third day of the event, holding quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Head Coach and Players Comment

KITANO Seiya (Nagoya Oceans U-18)
We didn’t lose any goal and made adjustment to the problem in defense at today’s game against FC Makuhari. It was difficult to play against football club team as they defend differently but we managed to play in our style for exchanging passes at our pace, typical Oceans style. I think we will be able to win the championship if we can get united and keep the ball for scoring at right time. I know we have to win the championship, being futsal team.

ISHIHARA Yuki (Seiwa Gakuen FC)
We have lost two straight games but we had a chance to win the first round if we can win by at least three goal margin. We started the game believing in individual skills trained for last three years and get ourselves motivated for the game. We managed to come to participate in the event and qualify for the final round thanks to support by parents who took care of me and team mates the cheering in the stand and coach’s instructions.

KODAMA Naoki (Fujii Gakuen Sangawa High School Soccer Club)
We had many situations about to lose the goal in the final match against Seiwa Gakuen SC but we were saved by goalkeeper’s fine saves. We won the game because we score the goal at right timing. Regularly holding futsal for training, I would assume our determination of “we don’t want to lose in physical strength and technique” led to scoring many goals. Of course I want to become a champion and aiming to be a top scorer.

UEMURA Naoya, Head Coach (Yasu High School Soccer Club)
All the registered members played in three games of first round and each one of them played very hard. I am pleased we won three games in a row. In the final round, we are going to play against club usually play futsal. I am talking with our players “we want to win the championship beating those clubs by demonstrating Yasu’s style of pass and dribble. I want to keep playing that way until the end of the game.

JFA-TV

The 1st All Japan Youth Futsal Championship presented by BallBall

Date: Thu. 28 Aug to Sun. 31 Aug.2014
Venue: Sumidaku Sogo Taikukan (Sumida City Gymnasium) and Otaku Sogo Taiikukan (Ota-City General Gymnasium)
Event information - match fixtures,etc.(Japanese version only)