Pick-up Match

Ichiritsu Funabashi High School　2-1（1st 0-0, 2nd 2-1）　Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST entered the fifth week of the season on 10 May (Sunday). Ichiritsu Funabashi (Chiba) took on Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School (Chiba). For the all-Chiba powerhouse matchup, fans jampacked the stands at the stadium, and in fact, some of them had no place to go but on the sides of the pitch. The match drew that much of attention.

The players of both sides exhibited tough-fought battles from the beginning. But it was Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa who earned a spotlight first. On 7th minute, Sugawara Shunpei took a shot heading a corner kick from the left, yet Ichiritsu Funabashi goalkeeper Terao Ryo saved it. Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa kept their offence around their long balls and threat the Funabashi goal from corner kicks and long throws. But Ichiritsu Funabashi, whose head coach Asaoka Ryuzo assesses that his team's pair of center backs and side backs have been consistent this year, would not give up a first goal to Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa as they defended the opponents' crosses and shots with their own bodies. Ichiritsu Funabashi played around a solid defence, but would turn offensive when they had. Nagato Ayumu and Kudo Yuki threatened the Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa goal from their fast breaks on 35th and 39th minutes, respectively.

The teams entered halftime scoreless, but Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa get on the scoreboard first in the second half. On 60th, Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa found spaces in the right side with their accurate passing, Kaneta Atomu netted a goal with his left leg to give his team a lead. Ichiritsu Funabashi, now trying to catch up with the opponents, attempted to create side attacks around Furuya Seishiro and Nagato. On 76th minute, Furuya found a space in the left side with combination play with Nagato and provided a cross. Then Shiihashi Keiya fired a shot but missed the net. But Ichiritsu Funabashi increased the volume of their attacks more afterwards. On 78th, their tenacious attacks paid off, when they gained a free kick at the left spot of the box and Kudo directly made it into the goal to equal the contest at 1 all. Four minutes later, Kudo earned a penalty kick and kicked it on his own to give his team a lead.

Afterwards, Ichiritsu Funabashi consumed the remaining time while Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa's played later said that they were overwhelmed by their opponent's spirits, and wound up winning it 2-1. Ichiritsu Funabashi earned three points in their final first-cool game and will enter the no-match period undefeated.

Head Coaches' Comments

ASAOKA Ryuzo, Head Coach（Ichiritsu Funabashi High School）
We always have to play tough games against Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa. We were forced to struggle against their tough defence they had today, but we were able to manage to play it properly. At the same time, we had some time that we didn't play how we wanted to play, so you could say that it was also dangerous that we ended up coming on top. We've come undefeated in six games we've played, but regarding whether we really have the ability, I don't think we do. Using the no-game period, we will have to think once again of how we should develop our team.

HONDA Yuichiro, Head Coach（Ryutsukeiaidai Kashiwa High School）
I told our players before the game, “If you guys play as hard as you can and end up losing, there's nothing to be ashamed of.” But today's loss does hurt us. We could've won it and should've won it. One thing that crossed my mind was, we seemed to lose our stamina, which was seen in the heading battled in the air, in the second half. After we got behind, I guess our players were shocked and their momentum dropped drastically. Elsewhere, we made fouls too easily, and we have many issues like that, but at the same time, I saw some signs that we can retool ourselves, so I take it positively.

Other results

F.C. Tokyo U-18　6-1（1st 4-0, 2nd 2-1）　Consadole Sapporo U-18
Shimizu S-Pulse Youth　0-1（1st 0-0, 2nd 0-1）　Kashima Antlers Youth
Aomori Yamada High School　1-1（1st 1-0, 2nd 0-1）　Omiya Ardija Youth
Kashiwa Reysol U-18　5-0（1st 1-0, 2nd 4-0）　JFA Academy Fukushima

FC Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) scored six goals, including a hat trick from Sato Ryo, as they tamed Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Hokkaido). Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) maintained the game-winning goal from Hirato Taiki and earned three points against Shimizu S-Pulse (Shizuoka). Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) and Omiya Ardija (Saitama) played a 1-1 draw. Aomori Yamada avoided a second straight loss, but failed to gain three points as they allowed an equalizer to Omiya's Kawata Kento on 84th minute.  Ukita Kensei lacked up four goals to help Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) seize their first victory of the season with a 5-0 win over JFA Academy Fukushima (Shizuoka).