U-15 Japan National Team vs. Bangkok Glass FC U-18
2015-7-25 (Sat.) - 16:00　Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
LEO Stadium training pitch (Bangkok, Thailand)

U-15 Japan National Team  4-2 (1st 3-1, 2nd 1-1)  Bangkok Glass FC U-18

Scores
2'     MASUTANI Takara (U-15 Japan)
10'   KUBO Takefusa (U-15 Japan)
17'   Goal against (U-18 Bangkok Glass FC)
28'   HOMMA Shion (U-15 Japan)
57'   Goal against (U-18 Bangkok Glass FC)
76'   NAKAMURA Keito (U-15 Japan)

Line-ups
GK: TAKADA Yuma
DF: OKAMOTO Shosei, ENDO Hikaru, INOUE Miki, IWAI Ryuji
MF: OISHI Naoya, MASUTANI Takara, HOMMA Shion, YACHIDA Teppei
FW: KUBO Takefusa, FUNAKOSHI Hiromu

Substitutes
GK: TANI Kosei, ISHII Ryo
DF: SAKUTA Ryutaro, SEKO Ayumu, KEMMOTSU Takumu, KIKUCHI Kenta
MF: HIRAKAWA Rei, SUZUKI Toichi, SUGAWARA Yukinari, KIDA Hinata
FW: NAKAMURA Keito, MIYASHIRO Taisei, KATSURA Rikuto

36'   IWAI Ryuji → SAKUTA Ryutaro
40'   OISHI Naoya → SUZUKI Toichi
HT     TAKADA Yuma → ISHII Ryo
68'   OKAMOTO Shosei → HIRAKAWA Rei
74'   FUNAKOSHI Hiromu → NAKAMURA Keito
79'   INOUE Miki → KIKUCHI Kenta

Match Report

U-15 Japan National Team, “00 JAPAN”, played against the Bangkok Glass FC U-18, who were finalists in the recent domestic championship, for the second match on their Thailand trip. 

The players, who stayed on the bench at the beginning of their first match, started the second game and put pressure on the opponent. After two minutes, MASUTANI Takara, who reacted to the opponent’s attempted clearing, knocked the ball into the right-hand corner, striking the opener. 

In the 10th minute, KUBO Takefusa got through the opponent’s defenders with a one-two with YACHIDA Teppei, and calmly faced a one-on-one to score a goal. Although Japan continued their attack, after 17 minutes, they conceded a goal from a strong shot by the opponent from the space behind the defensive line through a mistake of switching positions. 

Japan almost lost their pace, but HOMMA Shion did not miss an opportunity to intercept the ball from the opponent’s goalkeeper to the defender, and added further insurance in the 28th minute. The game went into the second half.

In the second half, the players seemed to become a little tired and could not pass the ball around well against Bangkok Glass FC, who substituted players one after another. In the 57th minute, the opponent got through on the left wing and scored their second goal. 

HIRAKAWA Rei and NAKAMURA Keito, who came off the bench, contributed to the team regaining their rhythm. Japan gradually started to create some attacking opportunities again. After 76 minutes, Nakamura ran towards the space behind the defenders and dealt with a one-on-one calmly, scoring Japan’s fourth goal. 

U-15 Japan managed to keep tight defence until the final whistle and winning two straight games in this trip.

“00JAPAN” will meet the  Chonburi FC U-18 on 27 July.

Players' Comments  

TAKADA Yuma (Higashiyama High School)
As I focused on coaching all the time, I think I did well in coaching. There is still some room to improve my particular task before this trip – challenging for the ball more aggressively. I’d like to play even more aggressively. I’d like to train harder to be able to react well to the ball behind the defensive line. I’d like to change my weak points into my strengths. I’d like to contribute to the team, keeping a clean sheet, in the next game.

ENDO Hikaru (Mitsubishi Yowa SC Chofu Junior Youth)
I was glad that we started the game well and struck the opener in the first half. Having said that, we conceded a goal from careless mistakes. I felt really frustrated, as I couldn’t play my style at all and conceded a goal from my own mistake.

In the second half, I was switched to centre back. I think I could show what I learned in the training session, including predicting and reacting to long-distance passes. I’d like to learn good movements from the opponent as well as from my teammates, and fix today’s tasks as much as possible.

MASUTANI Takara (Kawasaki Frontale U-18)
The atmosphere of the team was very good from the warm-up, just like our first match. As the players on the bench stayed vocal, we could start the match smoothly. We could strike the opener at the beginning of the game and took the initiative.

Personally, I still haven’t got enough stamina to keep running for 90 minutes, and have to improve the accuracy of my passes. As a team, more of us should try and contribute to the attack, so that it has depth. We’ll face the remaining two matches with more spirit to impress the opponents. 

YACHIDA Teppei (Nagaoka Junior Youth FC)
Although I’m pleased that we won the game, conceding two goals is a problem. I could show my strength – contribute to goal-scoring opportunities by through passes. Having said that, there is still some room to improve the speed and the rhythm of passes, as well as the skills of interception. As I’m gradually getting used to the environment in Thailand and getting to know my teammates, I’d like to play better in the remaining two games.

FUNAKOSHI Hiromu (Vissel Kobe U-15)
It was good that we pressed both in our attack and defence at the beginning of the first half, so that we could find our rhythm. Having said that, we could have scored more with our numerous goal-scoring opportunities. There were too many missed shots. Bringing what we learned during the training session into game, including the combinations up to the goal and defending from the frontline, gave me some confidence.

However, I couldn’t intercept well or run faster than the opponent. So I’ll try harder in the next match to get a good result.

Schedule

Note: The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.