The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League will enter its 12th week of the EAST division on Sunday 7 September.
Obtaining no win yet in the second half of the season, JFA Academy Fukushima (Shizuoka) will play Consadole Sapporo (Hokkaido) at home. “We are able to possess the ball up front, but our finishes are not good enough,” points out head coach Nakata Yasuhito the reason for their goal drought. Their tenacious offensive plays are expected to break through Sapporo’s defence, who lost only one goal in the recent three matches.

Another match is set up between Ichiritsu Funanabashi High School (Chiba) and Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori), both of who are in winning streaks. Ichiritsu Funabashi have recorded four clean sheets in this season, led by goalkeeper Shimura Ko and centre back Fujii Taku. Aomori Yamada’s attacking end has been in form as they scored eight goals in the recent two matches. Under head coach Kuroda Go, saying when you run to attack, you don’t feel as tired as when you run to defend” his players aim at winning all the remaining matches of the second half of the season.

Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa High School (Chiba) will take on Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) in the “Kashiwa Derby.” Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa may have a bit of issue on their combinations as they are halfway through the renovation of their team according to their tradition of replacing the squad every summer. Kashiwa Reysol lost to Sapporo in a close match last Sunday. As they ended up with just two shots in the second half, they hope their offensive end will stir themselves up in the next match.
Mitsubishi Yowa SC Youth (Tokyo) will welcome Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) at home. In their last match, after conceding first three goals of the match, Mitsubishi Yowa could not come back against Aomori Yamada although they were nearly back in business with late fierce attacks. As centre back Ikeda Jurato commented “we are a team who start a match concentrating on defence,” it is necessary for them to be careful of how they get into the match so that they would make it a close contest.

［Pick-up Match from EAST Week 12］
Tokyo Verdy Youth vs Shimizu S-pulse Youth

Tokyo Verdy Youth have been dormant with four losses in all four match conceding 16 goals since the week 8. While they armed players listed on Japan’s youth national teams including captain Nakano Masaomi, they cannot ride the upward momentum. The opposition Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) seem to be getting out of the slump they had. As they kept a clean sheet for a win for the second time this season in the last match against Academy Fukushima, they have regained their form. Whether Tokyo Verdy find a way with improved defence or Shimizu come back into complete form, the contest is certainly worth watching. 

■Tokyo Verdy Youth vs Shimizu S-pulse Youth
Date: Sunday 7 September, kick-off at 11 am
Venue: Verdy Ground
Access: 5 min. walk from the final stop of the rapid gondola from Keio Sagamihara Line “Yomiuri Land” station.