The 19th International Youth Soccer in Niigata   2nd Match  vs. U-17 Niigata Selection
2015-7-19 (Sun.) - 16:30    Playing time: 90min. (45min x2)
Ijimino Park Soccer Field (Niigata/Shibata)

U-17 Japan National Team   4-1 (0-1, 4-0)   U-17 Niigata Selection

Scores
43' 　Goal against (U-17 Niigata Selection)
56'　YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa［PK］ (U-17 Japan)
61'　 SUGA Daiki (U-17 Japan)
72'　 YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa (U-17 Japan)
89'　 KUROKAWA Atsushi (U-17 Japan)

Line-ups
GK: WAKINO Atsushi
DF: TANAKA Riku, MORIOKA Riku, HASHIOKA Daiki, SUGIOKA Daiki
MF: TANAKA Kosuke, WATANABE Kouta, ITO Hiroki,YASUI Takuya
FW: SUGA Daiki, ITO Ryotaro

Substitutes
GK; YAMAGUCHI Rui
DF: MORISHITA Reiya, TOMIYASU Takehiro
MF: KUROKAWA Atsushi, SASAKI Takumi
FW: YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa, IWASAKI Yuto

HT　 ITO Ryotaro → YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa
HT　TANAKA Kosuke → IWASAKI Yuto
HT　 ITO Hiroki → SASAKI Takumi
HT　 WATANABE Kouta → TOMIYASU Takehiro
61'　YASUI Takuya → KUROKAWA Atsushi
77'　SUGIOKA Daiki → MORISHITA Reiya

Match Report

The U-17 Japan National Team played the second match against the U-17 Niigata Selection.

Although Japan have not been able to win against the U-17 Niigata Selection for four years, the players aimed to get a good result and put in a good performance, passing the ball around to finish shots from the beginning of the match. They created several goal-scoring opportunities, but could not find the back of the net. After 43 minutes, Niigata intercepted the ball at midfield and got through the left wing, passing a cross in front of the goal. Niigata took a shot and struck the opener, and the match went into the second half.

In the second half, however, Japan started to attack from the beginning. In the 56th minute, Japan earned a penalty kick when YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa got through the right wing, crossing the ball in front of the goal and forcing the opponent to defend with a handball. Yoshihira scored from the penalty kick.

After 61 minutes, SUGA Daiki, who reacted to a cross in front of the goal from YASUI Takuya from the right side, scored with a superb header, turning the game around. Then in the 72nd minute, IWASAKI Yuto, who dribbled up through the left side, passed a cross to Yoshihira, who whacked a header through the opponent’s defenders, adding more insurance.

Finally on the 89th, KUROKAWA Atsushi dribbled up through the right wing to the penalty area, taking a shot. He knocked the ball into the left-hand corner. Japan won the match 4-1, beating the U-17 Niigata Selection for the first time after five years.

Players' Comments

ITO Hiroki (Jubilo Iwata U-18)
We just could not lose to the Niigata Selection again. I was on the pitch during the first half and tried to pass the ball around as much as possible. I could have passed toward the goal area a little more, though.

I’m really pleased that the team won the game. I’d like to prepare myself for tomorrow’s match against Serbia and win the game.

SUGA Daiki (Consadole Sapporo U-18)
In today’s match, we couldn’t find the back of the net in the first half, letting the opponent strike the opener, even though we pressed forward. Having said that, we could play more flexibly in the second half, passing the ball around well, and scored four goals.

As we could have scored more with our goal-scoring opportunities, I’d like to try harder. I’d like to display my skills as much as possible whenever I’m on the pitch on the last day. I hope we’ll finish the tournament in a good way by winning the championship tomorrow.

TANAKA Riku (Kashiwa Reysol U-18)
It was good that we turned the game around and won it 4-1 today. However, there were some careless mistakes and the accuracy of our finishing was not good at all especially in the first half, giving the ball away to the opponent. I’d like to keep possession more with better plays.

Personally, as I couldn’t display my strength due to the number of mistakes, I’d like to play better in tomorrow’s match whenever I’m on the pitch. I think the team has improved through today’s experience and I learned a lot as well. I’d like to win the championship, bringing in the game what we learned from today’s match.

WAKINO Atsushi (Higashi Fukuoka High School)
Although I focused on the attack in the second half of today’s match against the Niigata Selection, I couldn’t finish with shots in a good way and we conceded a goal from our mistake. Having said that, we moved forward in the second half and could turn the game around, which was very good.

Personally, there were many good build-up plays and I’d like to continue in the same way. I’d also like to fix careless, obvious mistakes in the future. I’ll do my best in the next match against Serbia, keeping a clean sheet, to win the championship.

Schedule

Note: The schedule is subject to change.