Training Match vs Sagan Tosu
2015-10-29 (Thu.) - 11:00　Playing Time: 90min (45min.×2)
Best Amenity Stadium (Saga/Japan) 

U-22 Japan National Team short-listed squad   7-0 (4-0, 3-0)　Sagan Tosu

Scores
15'   NARA Tatsuki (U-22 Japan National Team)
24'   NARA Tatsuki (U-22 Japan National Team)
45'   NAKAJIMA Shoya (U-22 Japan National Team)
45+1'   ASANO Takuma (U-22 Japan National Team)
66'   NOTSUDA Gakuto (U-22 Japan National Team)
85'   ASANO Takuma (U-22 Japan National Team)
90'   KAMADA Daichi (U-22 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
GK: KUSHIBIKI Masatoshi
DF: KAMEKAWA Masashi, NARA Tatsuki, IWANAMI Takuya, MUROYA Sei
MF: OSHIMA Ryota, HARAKAWA Riki, YAJIMA Shinya, SEKINE Takahiro
FW: KANAMORI Takeshi, ARANO Takuma

Substitutes
GK: SUGIMOTO Daichi, NIEKAWA Ayumi, NAKAMURA Kosuke
DF: NAKANO Yoshihiro, YAMANAKA Ryosuke, NAKATANI Shinnosuke, MISAO Kento
MF: TAMEDA Hirotaka, NOTSUDA Gakuto, KIDA Takuya, AKINO Hiroki, KAWABE Hayao
FW: NAKAJIMA Shoya, ASANO Takuma, MAEDA Naoki, KAMADA Daichi

34'   KANAMORI Takeshi → ASANO Takuma
34'   YAJIMA Shinya → NAKAJIMA Shoya
34'   KAMEKAWA Masashi → YAMANAKA Ryosuke
34'   SEKINE Takahiro → MAEDA Naoki
HT   KUSHIBIKI Masatoshi → NAKAMURA Kosuke
HT   OSHIMA Ryota → KIDA Takuya
HT   HARAKAWA Riki → KAWABE Hayao
56'   ARANO Takuma → KAMADA Daichi
62'   MAEDA Naoki → NOTSUDA Gakuto
62'   MUROYA Sei → NAKANO Yoshihiro
65'   YAMANAKA Ryosuke → AKINO Hiroki
70'   NAKAJIMA Shoya → TAMEDA Hirotaka
86'   KIDA Takuya  → MISAO Kento
86'   KAWABE Hayao → NAKATANI Shinnosuke

Match Report

In the midst of their development process for the Olympic Games’ final qualifying round to be held in Qatar next January, U-22 Japan National Team shortlisted squad played a training match against Sagan Tosu on 29 October. In the warm sunshine, as many as 2,800 fans attended the match at Best Amenity Stadium.

To start off the match, U-22 Japan National Team shortlisted squad employed the 4-4-2 formation, and took the initiative of the match with forwards KANAMORI Takeshi and ARANO Takuma aggressively chasing and checking the ball up front for repeating opportunities. In the 15th minute, midfielder HARAKAWA Riki fed the ball into the middle, and defender NARA Tatsuki headed into the goal to open the scoring.

In the 24th minute, the second goal was scored by Nara in the exact same way through Harakawa’s corner-kick feed. Japan kept creating opportunities after that by moving the ball with less touches and three or four players playing simultaneously. Moments before the end of the first half, forward NAKAJIMA Shoya was awarded a penalty in the box and composedly converted it himself for the third goal of his team.

One minute into the additional time, one more goal was scored when forward ASANO Takuma intercepted a pass, took it forward and went by the opposing goalkeeper with poise. The score was 4-0 at the end of the first half.

Japan’s young squad remained focused in the second half. They did not allow crucial moments to the opponents with quick charge on the ball and united and aggressive defence. With HALILHODZIC, coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team), watching from the stand, midfielder NOTSUDA Gakuto’s left-footed strike from the mid-range extended the lead to 5-0.

While the team made the total of 14 substitutions, every player given the chance executed the team’s game plan "Attack and defend altogether" and showcased his own strength as well. It was obvious that coach TEGURAMORI Makoto’s strategy was well understood by his players through the series of training so far.

In the 85th minute, Asano scored his second goal of the day and five minutes later forward KAMADA Daichi, belonging to the opponents Sagan Tosu, piled up another for the national team from mid-range. The squad have been criticised for their lack of scoring abilities, but proved their capabilities with the seven goals scored as well as defended perfectly to hold the opponents scoreless before wrapping up their camp in Saga.

The development and depth of U-22 Japan National Team have been steadily improved for the final qualifying round in Qatar next January. Coach Teguramori now pleasantly struggles with his difficult task ahead to trim the squad to 23 players.

Coach and Players' Comments

TEGURAMORI Makoto, Coach
I said to our players before the match "We want to finish it up with holding them scoreless and us making sure to score goals. We will play to our team concept. We attack and defend altogether and we move around and the move the ball around and grab the win." As Sagan Tosu laid out their zone defence, we showed that this team are capable of scoring goals as long as our timing and kicking qualities are good. In matches before this one, we weren’t able to score many, but we did many goals today by attacking at the right time when the opponents were off guard.

I am satisfied that players who joined the team for the first time showed good capability to understand our tactics. They did that after the limited number of practices and meetings. They were just like with us for many months. That will make it difficult for us to select a future squad. We had the one-day longer camp this time than usual, so our workouts were very productive. Our players stepped up their game well enough in this period. Together we could make sure the style of football we are aiming for including good qualities of ball movement.

Our confidence is now stronger because we won by playing how we wanted to play and we realised the direction we had been heading wasn’t wrong. At the end of the camp, I said to the players "I want you all to believe that you have a good chance to play in the final qualifiers and the finals tournament of the Olympics. When this generation plays well, that will lead to a brighter future of Japanese football."

DF  NARA Tatsuki (F.C. Tokyo)
I scored two goals, but as a defender I am happy that we held them scoreless. In the matches against Kyoto Sanga F.C. and J3’s Machida Zelvia, I wasn’t satisfied with our intensity. When I came out for today’s match, I wanted to bring aggressiveness to the team. Our generation has many good centre-backs, and I can get better because I have those guys, being good teammates and good rivals. And it’s good if we can play stable defence no matter who plays on the pitch.

Our generation couldn’t go above the last 8 in Asia, and this final qualifiers are the last chance remaining for us. I think we all are trying hard. I also want to be part of the team and help the team, so I want to get better day in and day out. And hopefully I will be able to be on the pitch in the end and I want to achieve that.

MF  NOTSUDA Gakuto (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Today I was trying to shoot it when I had a clear way to goal in front of me. The pitch condition was good, so I thought it would go in if I turn around with the first touch and make sure the ball stays low. So that goal was exactly how I pictured. We have many good players at my position. I tried to look at myself simply and asked myself what my strength is. Then I realised it is my shooting ability, so I reminded myself before the match to show it on the pitch.

We are now able to move the ball forward after robbing it better than before, and we also have a better shared understanding of what we want to do as a team. I think those things resulted in getting seven goals and allowing zero today. Getting the ticket to the Olympics is our first goal, but there are tough battles ahead in Asia. We want to get better individually and collectively for the final qualifiers.

Schedule