Pick Up Match

Ryutsu Keizaidai Kashiwa High School  0-0 (1st 0-0, 2nd 0-0)  Shimizu S-pulse Youth

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League had EAST’s Week 15 on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September, and Ryutsu Keizaidai Kashiwa High School (Chiba) met Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka).

After working on defence improvement over the summer, RKU Kashiwa entered the match in the same deliberate style as the last match. . They made a defensive block in front of goal to prevent Shimizu’s penetration. Even when the opposition possessed the ball, RKU Kashiwa did not allow any shooting opportunity by their acute reactions to intercept Shimizu’s vertical passes. While Shimizu tried to seek a chance for their attack by sending the ball to their side players such as Nishizawa Kenta, they could not face forward in the opposing end as there was only limited space. Kitagawa Koya fired a middle-range shot to somehow ignite their offence, but it did not found the net.

In the second half, RKU Kashiwa, who had put more weight on defence, enhanced their offensive momentum. As both side backs positioned high up the pitch, they started to dominate the match. Then, RKU Kashiwa’s backs provided crosses to Ogawa Ryoya up front so that they created decisive moments. Although Arakaki Takayuki often ran through around the goal for several goal-scoring opportunities, his efforts could not find the back of the net as his shot once hit the post. Meanwhile, Shimizu strived for a win to close the gap with leaders Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba). Forward Kitagawa moved down the pitch to initiate their attacks. He kept the ball to let his teammates move up, but they could not finish their offence with a shot against RKU Kashiwa’s intense challenges.. The closing stage of the match displayed a fierce contest around the box as RKU Kashiwa sent simple cross balls and Shimizu withstood the attacks. Yet until the end, the score remained the same, and both teams shared one point.

Comments

HONDA Yuichiro, Head Coach (Ryutsu Keizaidai Kashiwa High School)
Our defence has been solid as we conceded just one goal in the last two matches. That’s a positive side Of course, we wanted to get three points, but the opponents are higher in the table and have good players. Playing a good game against such a team is going to be confidence, and I said to players “you guys surpassed opponents in terms of minimising their strength.” The match gave us a hope for the final phase of the season.

ARAKAKI Takayuki (Ryutsu Keizaidai Kashiwa High School)
I couldn’t score at those shooting chances, I feel bad for my teammates. But we realised we could keep our opponents scoreless as long as we all stay focused. So once we start scoring when we are supposed to score, good results will follow. Compared to the last match where our offence was simply taking the ball forward, today we could use our sides and our offence had more variety to create chances.

HIRAOKA Hiroaki, Head Coach (Shimizu S-pulse Youth)
I want to take it in a positive way that we kept a clean sheet and gained a point, but wanted to take more shots. It’s great if we can convert all of the limited chances into goals. In reality, that’s not easy. Then, we need to get into the penalty area and need to have more creativity and courage with us.

KITAGAWA Koya(Shimizu S-pulse Youth)
I’m disappointed that we couldn’t respond to our defensive efforts that kept a clean sheet. Especially in the beginning of the match, the oppositions sat back, but we still had chances to score and could have used the midfield more effectively. Individually, I just came back from injury and I am not back in the best shape　yet. Even so, I could play 90 minutes. That turned out to be a valuable opportunity to get back my endurance.

[Other Matches]

Kashiwa Reysol U-18   2-0 (1st 0-0, 2nd 2-0)   Tokyo Very Youth
JFA Academy Fukushima   1-1 (1st 0-1, 2nd 1-0)   Aomori Yamada High School
Mitsubishi Yowa Youth   0-4 (1st 0-2, 2nd 0-2)   Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Consadole Sapporo U-18   1-1 (1st 0-0, 2nd 1-1)   Kashima Antlers Youth

While Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) struggled with Tokyo Verdy Youth (Tokyo)’s solid defence, marking just one shot in the first half, the league leaders protect their spot with the two goals in the second half. The contest between JFA Academy Fukushima (Shizuoka) and Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) ended with a 1-1 draw with Academy Fukushima’s late goal. Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) routed Mitsubishi Yowa (Tokyo) 4-0, led by Furuya Seiichiro’s hat trick. Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Hokkaido) allowed a lead to Kashima Antlers Youth until late but snatched a point with Hirakawa Genki’s last-grasp goal in the added time.