International Friendly Match  vs  U-15 Korea Republic National Team
2015-12-9 (Wed.) - 15:00   Playing Time: 80min. (40min.×2)
Kumamoto Sogo Athletic Park Auxiliary Field (Kumamoto)

U-15 Japan National Team   1-3 (1-3, 0-0)   U-15 Korea Republic National Team

Scores
27'   Goal against (U-15 Korea Republic National Team)
30'   Goal against (U-15 Korea Republic National Team)
35'   Goal against (U-15 Korea Republic National Team)
40'   KUBO Takefusa (U-15 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
GK: OUCHI Issei
DF: KUWAHARA Kaito, SEKO Ayumu, INOUE Miki, SUGAWARA Yukinari
MF: FUJIWARA Shiryu, FUKUOKA Shimpei, KIDA Hinata, KUBO Takefusa
FW: TANAHASHI Akito, NAKAMURA Keito

Substitutes
GK: AOKI Kokoro
DF: SEBATA Gijo, NAMAIZAWA Yohan, IWAI Ryuji, KOBAYASHI Yuki, NISHIO Ryuya
MF: FUKUDA Sho, HIRAKAWA Rei, KOZUKI Soichiro, YOSHIDA Tasuku, SHIMIZU Ryoma, HIGASHI Shunki
FW: MIYASHIRO Taisei, ISHI Kaisei

47'   FUJIWARA Shiryu → MIYASHIRO Taisei
51'   INOUE Miki → KOBAYASHI Yuki
54'   KIDA Hinata → HIRAKAWA Rei
58'   KUWAHARA Kaito → IWAI Ryuji
63'   TANAHASHI Akito → ISHI Kaisei
72'   KUBO Takefusa → HIGASHI Shunki
72'   NAKAMURA Keito → KOZUKI Soichiro
80'   FUKUOKA Shimpei → SHIMIZU Ryoma

Match Report

"00Japan", U-15 Japan National Team short-listed squad, had a friendly against U-15 Korea National Team (40min×2) and they were defeated 1-3. The team is having another 3 matches from the following day.

Japan tried to attack Korea’s goal aggressively from the beginning. On the 1st minute, midfielder FUJIWARA Shiryu made a shot but it didn’t find the net. Against Korea who is intensive in both offence and defence, Japan didn’t make many chances despite their quick pass work and intensive defence.

On the 24th minute, midfielder KIDA Hinata made a cross and forward TANAHASHI Akito tried to score with a scissor-kick, but again the shot only hit the post. Time went on with Japan’s advantage, but they could not score regardless of chances. In the 27th minute, when Japan was moving the ball round, Korea stole it and the shot went accurately in to Japan’s goal; Japan shouldn’t have allowed the opener. Korea got its momentum and Japan could not change the rhythm of the match. 

On the 30th minute, Korea attacked Japan from the wing and raised a cross which successfully gave the team a second goal lead by a headed shot. Additionally, on the 35th minute, Japan conceded the 3rd goal; a long throw went in front of the goal and Korea headed the ball which found Japan’s net. It was caused by Japan’s combination mistake.

Japan was desperate to counterattack and on the 40th minute forward NAKAMURA Keito and Tanahashi moved the ball quickly then midfielder KUBO Takefusa made a skillful finishing touch which successfully got a goal back. At that time, Korean players looked tired and Japan began intensive attack. Before the end of the 1st half, Kubo had 1-on-1 situation against Korea’s goalkeeper, but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper and Nakamura tried to push it back to the net, however it was cleared by a Korea’s defender on the goal line. The 1st half ended 1-3. 

In the 2nd half, Korea substituted most of the players and Japan kept trying to create chances competing intensively in 1-on-1 situation. However, Japan couldn’t make good passes before shooting and took too much time to carry the ball forward hence they couldn’t score the second goal. Korea tried a counter attack and blasted a strong shot on the 59th minute, but Japan didn’t concede any additional goals by goalkeeper OUCHI Issei’s blocking.

Japan substituted some players and carried on attacking Korea. On the 72nd minute, midfielder KOZUKI Soichiro and on the 76th minute FUKUOKA Shimpei had chances but both shots were blocked by the Korea’s goalkeeper. The match went on without scoring and Japan lost the match 1-3. 

On the following day, Japan will face Higashi Fukuoka High School who is the champion of Inter High School Sport Festival (Football). 

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

Players' Comments

OUCHI Issei (Yokohama FC Junior Youth)
U-15 Korea National Team is indeed strong, and we couldn’t maintain high motivation to beat them. From the early stage of the match, we had many chances but we just couldn’t score. It is our issue that we couldn’t get the momentum during the match.

However, as a team we have gained a sense of confidence since our offence and defence combination, which we have learned in the training, did work well. As an individual player, I could make good saves in the 2nd half. I want to keep protecting our goal especially in difficult time. We lost the match today, but we still have more matches; we will switch our mind to keep winning from tomorrow. 

SUGAWARA Yukinari (Nagoya Grampus U15)
We shouldn’t have lost the match against Korea. They had stronger mentality than us in the intensive competitions in front of goal. As a player, I could do right in 1-on-1 situation including aerial competition but having fewer opportunities to be a part of offence, improving pass quality and combination are the issues. The team has been in a good mood but we recognised many things that require improvement. From tomorrow, we all will push up the team’s mood even more and get ready to win the upcoming matches. 

NAKAMURA Keito (Mitsubishi Yowa SC Sugamo Junior Youth)
There were the plays shows our fitness disadvantage but we also found that our skill is enough to compete against them and that made me feel confident. However, we lost a lot of scoring chances and that gave Korea chances. I found many issues such as not being able to keep the ball well at our feet and forward players doing the same things together at the same time. We have shared what we should have done in the meeting tonight. We will win tomorrow.

Schedule

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