Third Place Playoff　 vs. Mitsubishi Yowa SC Youth

Sanix Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament 2015
Sun 22 March 2015   Kick Off 11:30 　Playing time 80 min (40min halves)
Global Stadium (Munakata/Fukuoka Prefecture)

U-17  Japan National Team　4-0 (1st 1-0 2nd 3-0)　Mitsubishi Yowa SC Youth

Scores
23min  TAGAWA Kyosuke（U-17 Japan）
42min  ITO Hiroki（U-17 Japan）
58min  NISHIMOTO Takanobu（U-17 Japan）
68min  WATANABE Yo （U-17 Japan）

Starters
GK：INOUE Seiya
DF：MORIOKA Riku、TOMIYASU Takehiro、MORISHITA Reiya、FUNAKI Kakeru
MF：KAJIYAMA Kanta、WATANABE Kouta、ITO Hiroki、NISHIMOTO Takanobu
FW：TAGAWA Kyosuke、IWASAKI Yuto

Substitutes
GK：TSURUTA Kaito
DF：TANAKA Kosuke、UMEMURA Go、ASADA Shogo
MF：NAGASAWA Ryosuke、SAITO Mitsuki、FUJIMOTO Kanya、WATANABE Yo、SASAKI Takumi
FW：ITO Ryotaro、SAKIMURA Yusuke

50min  TAGAWA Kyosuke 　→ 　SAKIMURA Yusuke
59min  NISHIMOTO Takanobu 　→ 　WATANABE Yo
62min  KAJIYAMA Kanta　→ 　TANAKA Kosuke
69min  ITO Hiroki 　→ 　FUJIMOTO Kanya
73min  WATANABE Kouta　 → 　SAITO Mitsuki

Match Report

Japan had the momentum moving the ball early, but weren't able to create shooting opportunities. Yet they eventually prevailed and had more chances to attack in their opponents' territory. On 23rd minute, Funaki had a cross from the left side and Tagawa jumped on it. He dodged the goalkeeper and put it into the net to take a lead. 

They entered halftime with Japan ahead 1-0. Japan kept their reign in the pitch in the second half. On 42nd, Ito Hiroki gave Japan a 2-0 lead with a long shot. On 58th, Iwasaki dribbled past defenders in the right side and fed a cross. Nishimoto headed it into the goal to make it 3-0. Then Iwasaki dribbled before the opponent's goal to draw some defenders and had a pass. Watanabe Yo reacted to it and put it in to give Japan a further lead. Japan allowed a penalty kick toward the end, but goalkeeper Nishimoto made a big save on it, and the game ended as it was. The Japan Under-17 squad posted a 4-0 victory and finished the Sanix Cup in the third place.

ITO Hiroki was selected for the Best Eleven.

Comments

IWASAKI Yuto（Kyoto Tachibana High School）
We've done with the Sanix Cup today. Though we finished third, we received a great experience playing in the severe circumstances. We won today's game against Mitsubishi Yowa 4-0 and I think it was a good way of wrapping up our tournament with the positive result. In terms of the contents, I think that we didn't lose our focus until the end despite of playing after series of games and having fatigue, but offensively, we lacked accuracy on having our ball. The national team was dismissed as of today and we players are going back to our own teams, but I would like to capitalize on what I learned and felt on the national team for my daily practice. I appreciate for the support.

NAGASAWA Ryosuke（Vissel Kobe U-18）
First of all, I hurt myself in our second game, and I feel sorry for giving some trouble to the team. Although we finished third, we were gradually able to share out playing judgements and play a very good game in the end. Personally, I was injured, but it was great to learn about the defensive parts and place and timing of receiving the ball during the games. It was a short period, but I enjoyed it. Thanks for the support.

TAGAWA Kyosuke (Sagan Tosu U-18)
Today, I was able to make a goal with a cross from Funaki. Before the goal, Funaki launched a few crosses, and I knew it was coming in some time, so I jumped in and the timing was the perfect. Defensively, I felt it was great because all of us were talking to each other. Meanwhile, I felt that I needed to develop the quality of my dribbling, so I want to work on it when I get back to the team. We finished third, but in myself I learned a lot of things so I want to keep it up at my team.

ITO Hiroki (Jubilo Iwata U-15)
Before the game, my mind dwelled on the thought that I wanted to play in the final, but I was able to switch my mind well to get in it. Our opponents for today was a team that used a lot of long balls, but we were conscious about taking the second balls after our defensive line would win the battles in the air. It was huge for us to get on the board first. We added goals not losing our focus afterward and I think that we played in our pace. I think that it was good we finished our last game of the tournament with a 4-0 win. And I am excited to have been chosen for the Best Eleven. I have another year next year, so I need to get called up by the national team first, then I want to do my best to help the team win the championship in this tournament next year.

【Final Standings】
Champions：   Korea U-17 team
Second place：Aomori Yamada High School
Third place：   Japan U-17 team

Schedule