Pick-up Match

Aomori Yamada High School   1-1 (0-0, 1-1)   Ichiritsu Funabashi High School 

The 4th round of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST on 30 April and 1 May saw a match between Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) and Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) at the Aomori Yamada High School ground. 

Both strong teams started the intensely competitive match with quick attacks deeply into front lines from the beginning. Aomori Yamada made chances from counter attacks and in the 30th minute MIKUNI Suteibia Ebusu broke through with dribbling and passed the ball to TAKAHASHI Issei, who smashed it to the goal but it was blocked by an Ichiritsu Funabashi defender. On the other hand, Ichiritsu Funabashi kept attacking the opponent’s goal from side wing players NISHIHA Taku and NOMOTO Kota. In the 36th minute KOU Takahiro passed the ball to the left wing player SUGIYAMA Danto and his shot went just past the goal post. The 1st half ended without any goals 0-0. 

In the 2nd half, Aomori Yamada’s pressure became stronger; in the 59th minute, Takahashi broke through the defence by dribbling and GOUKE Yuta jumped into the penalty area, then he was pushed down by the Ichiritsu Funabashi’s goalkeeper IOKA Kaito, Aomori Yamada got a penalty kick. Takahashi’s kick successfully found of the net, Aomori Yamada scored the opening goal. Ichiritsu Funabashi was eager to equalise and tried to cut into the opponent’s half from side wings. In the 71st minute, Ichiritsu Funabashi’s Sugiyama crossed the ball and Aomori Yamada’s goalkeeper HIROSUE Riku bounced it, then Ichiritsu Funabashi’s MASE Takumi who was approaching from the right back, pushed it back to the net. Ichiritsu Funabashi made the equaliser. 

Both teams worked even more intensively to get their second goal until the end of the match. Aomori Yamada’s SAGA Riku had a big chance being in 1-on-1 situation against Ichiritsu Funabashi’s goalkeeper in the 93rd minute, but the shot went over the top of the crossbar. At the moment of the match end, some players from both teams collapsed on the pitch. The intensive match drew 1-1. It was full of energy and aggressiveness. 

Coach and Players' Comments

KURODA Go, Coach (Aomori Yamada High School)
We were taking lead, but in the end of the match our press defence became bit weaker. The players of Ichiritsu Funabashi are really fit and we conceded their dribble many times. What was wrong today was that our side player fell over and the offside was not given. With the players of last year, they could have scored at the chance we had at the end of the match today. However, centre back players responded well to crosses. I think they were extra careful considering their play last week. 

TAKAHASHI Issei (Aomori Yamada High School)
I think the players of last year could have added another goal and won this match. Reflecting that defence players did their best, I feel sorry because the forward players, including me, could not score. When I scored, I could make a good trap with speed. When I was at the side of Gouke, I could see that the opponent would come out, so I passed the ball to the space behind him. What is most important is to earn as many points as possible, so we will win the next home match.

ASAOKA Ryuzo, Coach (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
We could finally become aggressive after conceding the opening goal. It was difficult to find the right time to strengthen the pressure to attack. We became aggressive after conceding the goal and the opponent became to have more careful in defence. In that situation, we started to have more scoring chances. We should have got another goal, otherwise this is not a true strength. Judging by the fact that we had difficulties due to their counter attacks, we have to be able to score not allowing any blocks. 

MASE Takumi (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
In the 1st half, we had control of the match, making chances, but we could not actually score and conceded the opening goal. When I made the equaliser, it was like the ball came to me when I was competing for the cross. It was good that we could move the ball forward but I have to correct my crosses to forward players since they didn’t work at all. I still think it was good that we could draw the match away from home. We haven’t lost yet, so we want to win the next match and to be a part of the top competition. 

Other Matches

Kashima Antlers Youth   0-0 (0-0, 0-0)   Albirex Niigata U-18
Omiya Ardija Youth   2-1 (1-1, 1-0)   Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa
Yokohama F・Marinos Youth   2-2 (1-1, 1-1)   Shimizu S-pulse Youth
Kashiwa Reysol U-18   0-1 (0-1, 0-0)   F.C. Tokyo U-18

Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) drew against Albirex Niigata U-18 (Niigata). It was the third match of this season that Kashima kept a clean sheet. 

Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama) could get the first win of this season by beating Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Chiba) who was in the 9th place. 

Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) drew against Yokohama F・Marinos Youth (Kanagawa) in their away match. They have not lost yet this season.

F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) jumped up to top above 2nd placed Ichiritsu Funabashi and 3rd placed Shimizu. ITO Junya’s goal decided the match to beat Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) . They got 3 consecutive wins. 

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