The final game for the 26th Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Youth (U-15) Championship is held at the West Field of Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday, December 27. Only a final game is left for this tournament where players felt full of joy as well as shed tears of regret.Two team survived for the final are Vissel Kobe U-15 (Kansai 2) and FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa (Kanto 2). Kobe beat Urawa Reds Junior Youth (Kanto 4) in a quarter final and Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15 (Kansai 3) in a semi final, respectively at 1-0. In the game against Urawa, Kobe kept patient for suffering time of harsh attack by the opponent and gained a winning goal just before the end.

On the contrary, against Kyoto, the team continued to dominate the game and successfully scored near the end. A player scoring in both games was Imani Yota. Imai, who marked 4 goals in this tournament, was enthusiastic saying "as my goal encourage the team evidently, I hope to make team champion with my goals" with his awareness and confidence as an ace of the team. Adding that, Kobe's biggest advantage is not offence but defence as shown the fact that the team has kept a clean sheet in this tournament. A head coach Abe Yuta explained a reason the team is in good shape as "our team in this year can defend well. Their skills and a ability of judgment are still developing, but stable defensive line gives them chances to reorganize their plays and fill the gap between offence and defence". Close final game like past ones is expected and whether Kobe is able to make their rhythm based on defence or not will surely be key point.

The other team, FC Tokyo won a complete victory over Yokohama Marinos Junior Youth Oihama at 3-0 in a quarter final and secured a point lead to win a close match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a semifinal. FC Tokyo marking 10 goals, the most in this tournament, has built offence from mainly Shinada Manato, closing to the opposite goal with its solid offensive line. The team has made their good rhythm by quickly pressing the opponent, as Yoshida Kazuhiro, who scored a winning goal in a semifinal, says "we intentionally defend from the high position and intercepting a ball in a high position to make a chance is the team's mark.

The team enjoys a deep confidence on its play style and Yoshida made a comment "our team would surely win a victory when we are able to do what we did, whoever the opponent is". A head coach Okuhara Takashi trust and send his players to a pitch, as saying "I want them to play a match with their football that they did so far".

Which team will score an opening goal is focused on, because both of them are confident on their defence. However, what decide a game is likely a fixation on victory, as Imaoka of Kobe said "not strength or skillful performance, but how strongly we seek a victory decide which will win. Which team will be honor to win a U-15 championship in Japan?

Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Youth (U-15) Football Tournament

Saturday, December 20, 2014 - Saturday December 27, 2014
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