The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League, a league competition that determines the top team among the U-18 generation in Japan, is about to resume on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August for its third stage.

The EAST division saw five best teams being within three points of each other, with Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) securing top spot and F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) standing in fifth place. After keeping the unbeaten run until Matchday 9, Kashima struggled in the second stage as they suffered their first loss of the season, 1-0, against F.C. Tokyo on Matchday 10. Their second stage record was 1 win, 1 loss and two ties.

Kashima look to collect wins against low-ranked teams such as Consadole Sapporo (Hokkaido) and Ryutsu Keizaidai Kashiwa High School (Chiba) before going out for Matchday 13 against Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama) in perfect form.

Omiya Ardija are the only team who have maintained their unbeaten streak from the start of the season among all the teams in the EAST and the WEST. Their second stage performance was decent as recording three wins and one tie, and the players say "We started finding out what separates winning from losing and as the result we became able not to lose."

The Saitama side settled for runners-up at the 39th Japan Club Youth Football Championship, which took place during the Premier League season break. Their advantage, however, would be that their pivotal midfielder YAMADA Riku was back in the lineup during the tournament after suffering an injury.

High school outfits are also likely to boost up the title race. Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) are engaged in collaborative efforts, led by midfielder KAMIYA Yuta and defender TOKITA Masato, both of who are expected to play in the professional football next year.

Including under-age Japanese international goalkeeper HIROSUE Riku, the balanced team both offensively and defensively have displayed magnificent battles as they snatched a point from Kashima and Omiya.

Fourth-placed Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) showed off their toughness on the big stage, reaching the final at the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament (Inter-high tournament). Forward NAGATO Ayumu suffering a light injury is a concern, but they have a positive news that attacker YAMURA Ken made a complete return from his injury.

Two Osakan sides Cerezo Osaka U-18 and Gamba Osaka Youth are involved in the WEST championship tussle. Cerezo Osaka have won all the matches except for Matchday 5 against Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) and the head-to-head contest against Gamba on Matchday 9. A coach from another team also compliments their performance, saying "Cerezo Osaka don't miss out on any match and make a draw-to-be match winnable for them."

As winning their sixth match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth (Hiroshima) and their 10th against Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka), Cerezo have been successful in rebuilding the team in the following matches after recording a loss. It is a significant factor not to linger on a loss in battling out in the league.

Gamba Osaka trail Cerezo by three points. Gamba have maintained their unbeaten run since Matchday 3, and their offence is in good form, scoring 11 goals in five matches. Yet they seem to lack stability as they shared spoils with Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) after winning the head-to-head contest against Cerezo 4-0.

Their first match after resuming from the break is against Higashi Fukuoka, who Gamba gave their only loss of the season. Gamba look to find their momentum with three points in the next match.

Teams finished summer tournaments and are gradually pulled together after August. It is also expected that lower-ranked teams come back up. Higashi Fukuoka coach MORISHIGE Junya says, "Individual abilities are inferior to the ones our team had last year." But they took advantage of their unity and won the inter-high tournament this month.

With their tenacity helping them gain slim wins in the four Premier League matches, they continue to play against their upcoming opponents. Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) are on a three-match losing streak but scored the opening goal in all those matches. Coach MORIOKA Ryuzo says of his confidence in the team "We didn't play a bad game."

It is interesting to see what kind of drama will be shown on Matchday 11 and afterwards.

Rank（Until the Section 10）

EAST

WEST