AFC U-19 Championship 2016 Qualifiers Group J   2nd Match  vs  U-18 Philippines National Team
2015-10-4 (Sun.) - 16:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
National Sports Complex Stadium (Laos/Vientiane)

U-18 Philippines National Team   0-6 (0-2, 0-4)   U-18 Japan National Team

Scores
6'   NODA Hiroki (U-18 Japan National Team)
26'   YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa (U-18 Japan National Team)
69'   IWASAKI Yuto (PSO) (U-18 Japan National Team)
71'   IWASAKI Yuto (U-18 Japan National Team)
81'   OGAWA Koki (U-18 Japan National Team)
88'   YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa (U-18 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
GK: HIROSUE Riku
DF: IWATA Tomoki, NODA Hiroki, MACHIDA Koki, URATA Itsuki
MF: IWASAKI Yuto, SUZUKI Tokuma, MORISHIMA Tsukasa, TAKAGI Akito
FW: ICHIMI Kazunari, YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa

Substitutes
GK: KOJIMA Ryosuke, YAMAGUCHI Rui
DF: FUJITANI So, TOMIYASU Takehiro, NAKAYAMA Yuta, FUNAKI Kakeru
MF: DOAN Ritsu, SAKAI Daisuke, SASAKI Takumi, KUBOTA Kazune
FW: KISHIMOTO Takeru, OGAWA Koki

HT   TAKAGI Akito → DOAN Ritsu
66'   SUZUKI Tokuma → SASAKI Takumi
75'   ICHIMI Kazunari → OGAWA Koki

Match Report

The second opponents of U-18 Japan National Team were the Philippines in the AFC U-19 Championship 2016 Qualifiers.

Japan, reshuffling the lineup from the opener, went on attacking by passing the ball around in the opposing end from the start of the match. In the 6th minute, after MACHIDA Koki headed MORISHIMA Tsukasa's corner kick, NODA Hiroki promptly responded to its deflection off an opposing defender before firing it into the net for Japan's opening goal. 

In the 26th minute, YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa rushed to the near post for URATA Itsuki's corner kick and headed home for his team's second goal of the match. Japan continued to create chances after that but failed to add another goal before finishing the first half 2-0.

Although the second half also saw Japan dominating the match, there was a string of mistakes at the moment when they needed to be focused, which resulted in no additional goals earned. The Japanese side were gradually getting composed to pass the ball around and started to create shooting opportunities. 

In the 69th minute, IWASAKI Yuto, dribbling into the box, was brought down by an opposing defender and earned a penalty. Iwasaki converted it for 3-0. Two minutes later, when Iwasaki received a through ball from substitute DOAN Ritsu, he beat a defender in the box to strike another goal for the fourth goal of the team.

In the 81st minute, substitute OGAWA Koki dribbled to penetrate the box from the opposing right flank and netted his team's fifth goal. In the closing minutes, 88th minute, Doan's shot from the edge of the box hit off a defender, and Yoshihira touched the rolling ball before an opponent to make it 6-0. To get through the qualifiers, Japan wanted to score as many more as possible, but the score remained at 6-0 until the end.

In their third match, Japan will face Australia, who have also grabbed two wins in the same group. The showdown will be significant for Japan to win to advance to the next round atop.

Players' Comments

NODA Hiroki (Otsu High School)
Today's Philippines match ended up in a somewhat disappointing outcome even though we scored the opening goal and six goals in the end. We had a lot of goal-scoring opportunities but failed to convert them. That's what we need to improve.

As an individual, I need to turn on the power of offence by sending more passes forward from my centre back position and improve the number of and quality of vertical passes and passes to the midfield. The next one against Australia will be very important. We all will communicate with each other to make the best possible preparation and win the match.

YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa (Oita Trinita U-18)
For most of the first half, our play wasn't working well, but in the second half, we did what we were supposed to do and end the match with a lot of goals and a clean sheet. The Australia match day after tomorrow is must-win. We will get well prepared and grab the ticket to the final qualifying round with a victory.

IWASAKI Yuto (Kyoto Tachibana High School)
Today we scored the opening goal early in the match but weren't able to get an additional goal after that, which forced us to struggle. But as a whole, it was good that we kept a clean sheet and scored six goals even though the atmosphere was downward. The next contest against Australia is important. We will try to get in form and all pull together.

Schedule

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