U-15 Japan National Team vs JEF United Ichihara Chiba U-16
2015-8-28 (Fri.) -  9:00　Playing Time: 135min (45min✕3)
Frontier Soccer Field (Chiba)

U-15 Japan National Team　4-1 (0-0, 3-1, 1-0)　JEF United Ichihara Chiba U-16

Scores
54'　Goal against (JEF United Ichihara Chiba U-16)
57'　MIYASHIRO Taisei (U-15 Japan National Team)
81'　NAKAMURA Keito (U-15 Japan National Team)
86'　NAKAMURA Keito (U-15 Japan National Team)
116'　KATSURA Rikuto (U-15 Japan National Team)

1st
GK：TANI Kosei
DF：IWAI Ryuji, KOBAYASHI Yuki, SEKO Ayumu, SUGAWARA Yukinari
MF：FUKUOKA Shimpei, HIRAKAWA Rei, SUZUKI Toichi, KUBO Takefusa
FW：MIYASHIRO Taisei, YAMADA Hiroto

2nd
GK：OUCHI Issei
DF：IWAI Ryuji, NOZUE Satoru, KEMMOTSU Takumu, AMANO Yuki
MF：NAKAMURA Keito, AWANO Kento, SEKO Ayumu, KUBO Takefusa
FW：MIYASHIRO Taisei, TANAHASHI Akito

3nd
GK：AOKI Kokoro
DF：MIKI Norihiro, KATO Hayato, SAKUTA Ryutaro, KIKUCHI Kenta,
MF：KUDO Aoi, HIGASHI Shunki, AMANO Yuki, KATSURA Rikuto
FW：NAKAMURA Keito, HARA Mikoto

31'　YAMADA Hiroto → TANAHASHI Akito
45'　TANI Kosei → OUCHI Issei
45'　KOBAYASHI Yuki → NOZUE Satoru
45'　SUZUKI Toichi → NAKAMURA Keito
45'　FUKUOKA Shimpei → AWANO Kento
45'　HIRAKAWA Rei → KEMMOTSU Takumu
45'　AMANO Yuki → SUGAWARA Yukinari
71'　IWAI Ryuji → KIKUCHI Kenta
71'　MIYASHIRO Taisei → KATSURA Rikuto
71'　SEKO Ayumu → KUDO Aoi
73'　KUBO Takefusa → SUZUKI Toichi
80'　TANAHASHI Akito → YAMADA Hiroto
90'　AWANO Kento → SAKUTA Ryutaro
90'　NOZUE Satoru → MIKI Norihiro
90'　KEMMOTSU Takumu → KATO Hayato
90'　SUZUKI Toichi → HIGASHI Shunki
90'　YAMADA Hiroto → HARA Mikoto
105'　KIKUCHI Kenta → NOZUE Satoru
108'　NAKAMURA Keito → AWANO Kento

Match Report

U-15 Japan National Team shortlisted squad , so-called “00 Japan” took on a training match against Jef United Ichihara Chiba U-16 on 28 August, the last day in the camp, by a three 45-minutes format.

In the first period, Japan had an initiative in the match, but still lacked the accuracy in each play. Committing careless passes, Japan could not create goal-scoring opportunities. In order to break the deadlock, two full-backs on both flanks aggressively went up to initiate attacks.

In the 24th minute, defender SUGAWARA Yukinari fed a cross from the right, which also looked like a shot as well. Forward KUBO Takefusa attempted to meet the cross ball only to find the opposing goalkeeper deny it. In the 30th minute saw defender IWAI Ryuji, who had repeatedly joined their offensive teammates on the left side, sent in a cross, but midfielder SUZUKI Toichi was not able to materialise it. The first period ended 0-0.

The match started to see scoring actions in the second half. Japan, struggling to create their dominant rhythm, in the 54th minute allowed the opponents to break through the middle and score the opening goal. But the goal conceded ignited Japan’s offence.

In the 57th minute forward MIYASHIRO Taisei, after receiving the ball at the left side in front of the goal, passed by a defender and struck a shot, which went into the goal after deflected by a defender.

Japan kept their attacking pace as forward Kubo went for a go-ahead goal in the 59th minute when he tried to meet a pass from defender AMANO Yuki, but his attempt was blocked by the goalkeeper. And in the 68th minute, this time it was forward TANAHASHI Akito that had a 1-on-1 against the goalkeeper only to have it stopped by the goalkeeper.

Then in the 81st minute, forward Tanahashi robbed the ball of the opponents and forward NAKAMURA Keito penetrated into the penalty box for his goal finally to put his side up one goal. Nakamura in the 86th minute followed his goal five minutes before with an impressively successful free-kick to extend the lead.

While the both sides failed to create chances early in the third period, in the 114th minute defender KATO Hayato dribbled the ball up and sent a through ball to midfielder KATURA Rikuto, who calmly put it into the net to give the fourth goal to Japan.

Although Japan did not settle for the lead and kept playing aggressively, the rest of the efforts including HARA Mikoto’s shot were not capitalised and the match ended as Japan’s 4-1 win.

“00 Japan” will take their squad to Mongolia where the AFC U-16 Championships 2016 Qualifiers are scheduled to be held after having another preparation camp domestically in early September.

* ”00 JAPAN” is the nickname of the U-15 Japan National Team that consists of members who were born in 2000.

Players' Comments

NAKAMURA Keito (Mitsubishi Yowa SC Sugamo Junior Youth)
The free-kick I scored was something I had practised over and over out of the disappointment I felt when I couldn’t play for the 30th Japan Club Youth Football Championship (U-15) in summer this year. After repeated practice, I got confident and it has become my strength.

I want to improve it even further. What I need to work on is, as coach Moriyama told me during the interval, that my slow transition between offence and defence created a favourable situation for the opponents. That was partly because the position I played today wasn’t something I was used to. I want to keep working hard to help my team by transitioning quickly between offence and defence, whatever position I play.

SEKO Ayumu (Cerezo Osaka U-15)
My goal today was to get the ball from the opponents when I was positioned inside, which is something I always try to do. Throughout the two training matches against good teams, I was able to intercept the ball several times as I had pictured.

So I will keep those plays in mind and try to raise the quality level of my play. I also felt that I still lacked the ability to predict the opponents’ next play, which we call risk management. So I will go back to my club and keep paying attention to how I can improve that in my everyday practices. 

HIRAKAWA Rei (FC Tokyo U-15 Musashi)
This trip made me realise how narrow my vision is. Especially when I get pressured quickly by the opponents, I can’t make effective passes unless I predict next possible plays before receiving the ball. So I will train myself to have a broader vision and improve my predicting ability.

Also I need to have more ideas to break down the defence when they back down defensively, for example passing the ball only after one touch, using flanks, using a change of pace and so on.

TANI Kosei (Gamba Osaka Junior Youth)
In today’s match, there were some occasions where we couldn’t connect passes or control the risks well. I want to keep practising day in and day out as I pay attention to my weakness.

The players on the bench were more supportive than in the Ichiritsu Funabashi match. The mood among the team is very good. So I want to advance out of the AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers with these guys.

Schedule

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