The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League WEST has its matchday 3 on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April.

As Oita Trinita U-18 forward Yoshihira Tsubasa says, “We all brought out our strength of hard-working together,” they cruised to a six-goal win in the last match. The Oita side face Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth (Hiroshima), who won the last two matches. Kato Mutsuki of Sanfrecce says, “We started keeping in mind to play hard on the ball after Mr. Sawada Kentaro took over the head coach role.” The matchup is expected to be a heated contest.

Riseisha High School (Osaka) take on Cerezo Osaka U-18, the outfit who share the same home prefecture. “Since the beginning of the spring season, we haven’t had so many matches where we kept a clean sheet, and we are just spinning our wheels in the defensive side” says HAYASHI Daichi. Despite the downside, Riseisha still held the opposing Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) scoreless in the last match. In next match, how they can halt Cerezo Osaka’s offensive end, who scored nine goals in the two latest wins, is something to watch out for.

After starting the season with two consecutive losses, Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) meet Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka). As Nagoya head coach Takada Tetsuya says, “We need to make some improvement,” It is urgent that Nagaya rebuild their defence, which conceded the total of 10 goals in the two matches. The opposing Higashi Fukuoka also gave up six goals in the opening match against Cerezo Osaka but notched a 1-0 shutout victory over Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) in the following match. The Fukuoka’s high school look for a back-to-back victory with their solid defence.

Fourth-placed Gamba Osaka play against Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto), who have not yet grabbed a win in this season. In the last match, Gamba recorded their first loss, but the players are all fired up to avoid losing again at any cost as Hatsuse Ryo says, “We need to put up a good result this year.” The opposition Kyoto target for their first victory of the season as one united team including substitution players. “We are trying to build up the team where all the players, led by third graders, get to fight out,” says NUMA Daiki.

Pick-up Match of WEST MD 3
Kyoto Tachibana High School vs Vissel Kobe U-18

Kobe and Kyoto Tachibana High School squared off against each other in the final fixture of the last season in the situation where Kobe would win the league with a win, and Kyoto Tachibana would stay in the league with at least a draw. Kobe eventually ended up at third place after failing to break through Kyoto Tachibana’s solid defence until the final whistle and finishing the match with a draw. On the other hand, Kyoto Tachibana were successful in keeping their spot in the league. With the contrasting outcome from last year, the teams face each other for the first time in this season.

Yasui Takuya is one of the players who left with his regret in the same matchup last year. He got a critical moment in the closing minutes but failed to find the net. “I still feel sorry for disappointing my seniors. This year I will turn the bitter experience into a good result,” says Kobe midfielder. For Kyoto Tachibana, conversely, the final match of the last season was where they not just kept their place in the league but also gave themselves more confidence. They will go out to grab points with tenacious defence this season as well.

Kyoto Tachibana High School  vs. Vissel Kobe U18
Date & Time: Sunday 26 April, Kick-off at 11:00 am
Venue: Kyoto Yamashiro General Athletic Park Taiyogaoka Athletic Field
Direction: 10-minute walk from “Taiyogaoka Gate-mae” or “Taiyogaoka-nishi Gate” of Keihan Uji Bus, which can be caught either at Keihan Line “Uji Station”, JR Line “Uji” station or Kintetsu Line “Okubo” station

Premier League WEST MD 3

Sat. 25 April
11:00 Oita Trinita U-18 vs. Sanfrecce F.C Youth (Oita Sports Park, Daigin Soccer/Rugby Field)
13:00 Riseisha High School vs. Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Riseisha Baraki Groud)

Sun. 26 April
11:00 Kyoto Tachibana High School vs. Vissel Kobe U-18 (Kyoto Yamashiro Sogo Undo Koen Taiyogaoka
11:00 Nagoya Grampus U18 vs. Higashi Fukuok High School (Toyota Sports Center) 17:00　Gamba Osaka Youth vs. Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Expo) (EXPO ’70 Commemorative Park)

More information on Premier League WEST

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