Pick Up Match

Higashi Fukuoka High School　0-2（1st 0-0、2nd 0-2）　Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18

Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) and Kyoto Sanga FC Under-18 (Kyoto), both of whom had won scoring rallies in the previous week and are on a roll, squared off in Fukuoka.

It was Higashi Fukuoka, who came on aggressively early on and attacked the opponents' goal from speedy offensive plays. On 3rd minute, Akagai Tsubasa, the schools's leading scorer, fired their first shot, but it was saved by Kyoto goalkeeper Toyama Keita. Higashi Fukuoka kept getting closer to the Kyoto goal with their fierce attacks until just past 20th minute, but every time they came up short. Kyoto, meanwhile, attempted to to get out of the situation based on their counter attacks yet lacked preciseness before the goal, and the contest entered halftime scoreless.

Kyoto coach Kawakatsu Hiroyasu, who later said that if his squad scored first, that would put them in a better situation, and the team began their attacking more boldly from the start of the second half. On 62nd minute, Kyoto patiently defended Higashi Fukuoka's attack from a corner kick, then brought the ball into the front field and at last Okugawa Masaya made a shot to put Kyoto up on the scoreboard. Higashi Fukuoka, who couldn't afford to lose in order to go up in the standings, started their rallies afterward, but Kyoto took advantage of the high school squad leaning forward. On 81st minute, Numa Daiki, who reacted to a pass from Okugawa, dodged the Higashi Fukuoka goalkeeper and netted a goal to extend the lead for Sanga to two. Afterward, Kyoto kept rejecting Higashi Fukuoka attacks and completed their third straight victory.

Comments

MORISHIGE Junya, Head Coach（Higashi Fukuoka High School）
We entered the match in good fashion, but just came up short in making goals. I told our players during halftime that a win would slip away from you hands once you allow your opponents to take advantage of just one chance, though. On the first goal given up, they picked up a loose ball after our corner kick and converted it to their fast attack. That we allowed it with a player we were cautious about means that we are still not complete. We are going to have to polish our concentration more from now on.

MASUYAMA Asahi（Higashi Fukuoka High School）
We created good opportunities over and over, but couldn't connected them. If we had won today, we would have gotten a chance to make the top group, so I'm vey frustrated. We allowed a goal on a fast offence, and then gave up another through a counter attack while we were leaning forward. It's regrettable that we were too slow to adjust to their quick offence. We would like to elaborate on our awareness in our everyday practice that when we lose the ball, we quickly adjust to it.

KAWAKATSU Hiroyasu, Head Coach（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18）
The key for the win was that we patiently defended our opponents' attacks early on. Our goalkeeper Toyama Keita put out everything he had and contributed to our victory. Each player of our opponents had high individual skill-sets and it was a great team. We had to endure the time staying in our back field, but made some good opportunities through some good flows and gave them some scoring threats. After we had a 1-goal lead, we were able to add another observing the game's flow and opponents' moves, and I could feel the growths of this team.

OKUGAWA Masaya（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18）
We came in this game having won consecutive matches, so I was thinking that we would win today as well. Our opponents were a team with offensive power, and we were assuming that we would allow them to come against us for a longer time. I'm glad to have made a goal off a counter, which is something I'm good at, after we endured some tough periods. I was waiting for a good chance, believing our defence and it's relieving that I could capitalize on the efforts of our defence. On the goal occasion, because I got a good pass, I just had to win a 1 on 1 situation against their goalkeeper.

Other Results

Nagoya Grampus U18　2-1（1st 0-0、2nd 2-1）　Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth
Higashiyama High School　1-3（1st 0-1、2nd 1-2）　Cerezo Osaka U-18
Toyama Daiichi High School　1-2（1st 0-2、2nd 1-0）　Gamba Osaka Youth
Kyoto Tachibana High School　0-1（1st 0-0、2nd 0-1）　Vissel Kobe U-18

Nagoya Grampus Under-18 (Aichi) came from behind with 10 minutes left with goals from Sakurai Subaru and Aoyama Hiroaki in a win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima). Cerezo Osaka Under-18's Kubo Rikuto struck a pair of goals as they beat Higashiyama High School (Kyoto). Toyama Daiichi High School (Toyama) scored a goal back from two goals down, but came up short in a loss to Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka). Yonezawa Rei scored a game-winner in the stoppage time as Vissel Kobe Under-18 (Hyogo) edged Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto), who have yet to post a win in the season.