Training Match vs Nippon Sport Science University
2016-9-26(Mon.) Kick-off 14:00　Playing Time 90min. (45min.×2)
Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka (Tokyo/Kita Ward)

U-19 Japan National Team short-listed squad　3-2 (2-1, 1-1)　Nippon Sport Science University

Scores
7'　OGAWA Koki (U-19 Japan National Team short-listed squad)
19'　OGAWA Koki (U-19 Japan National Team short-listed squad)
40'　goal against (Nippon Sport Science University)
62'　goal against (Nippon Sport Science University)
85'　OMINAMI Takuma (U-19 Japan National Team short-listed squad)

1st Half Line-ups
GK: KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF: FUJITANI So, ITAKURA Kou, MACHIDA Koki, KOJIMA Masaya
MF: ENDO Keita, SAKAI Daisuke, WATANABE Kouta, NAGANUMA Yoichi
FW: OGAWA Koki, TAKAGI Akito

2nd Half Line-ups
GK: KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF: FUJITANI So, OMINAMI Takuma, MACHIDA Koki, KOJIMA Masaya
MF: KUBOTA Kazune, SAKAI Daisuke, SUZUKI Tokuma, NAGANUMA Yoichi
FW: OGAWA Koki, TAKAGI Akito

Substiutions
GK: WAKAHARA Tomoya
DF: KOGA Taiyo, OMINAMI Takuma
MF: MIYOSHI Koji, SUZUKI Tokuma, HARA Teruki, KUBOTA Kazune
FW: IWASAKI Yuto

62'　KOJIMA Masaya → KOGA Taiyo
70'　TAKAGI Akito → IWASAKI Yuto
70'　SAKAI Daisuke  → HARA Teruki

Match Report

The U-19 Japan National Team will compete in the AFC U-19 Championship next month, seeking to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time since 2007. They are trying to follow the U-16 Japan squad, who already qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup by advancing to the quarterfinals of the AFC U-16 tournament.

This training camp of the short-listed squad is the last one prior to the AFC U-19 Championship, and the training match against Nippon Sport Science University was their last chance to showcase themselves before the final selection of the national team.

In the beginning of the first half of this training match, Japan scored consecutive goals taking the two-goal lead to halftime, but they conceded 2 goals in the second half, giving up their advantage. However, Japan were able to play resiliently and came through eventually, showing their unyielding attitude that they can stay persistent to win tough matches.

The final members of the U-19 Japan National Team for the AFC U-19 Championship will be announced on 28 September. 

Coach's and Players' Comments

UCHIYAMA Atsushi, Coach
This training camp was only for 2 days, but today’s training match was a good opportunity for me to see the condition of each of the players for the final qualifier. In order for us to compete effectively in the AFC U-19 Championship, maintaining an excellent condition of the players will be very important. I will keep discussing with the staff members about how to get ready for the championship. We have only one month to go. We should not waste any time and make the best possible preparation for the tournament so that we will not regret it.

ITAKURA Kou (Kawasaki Frontale)
It’s been a long time since my last call-up, and I was very excited to showcase my strength in today’s match. We won the match, but there were many issues that need to be addressed, so I will talk them over with my teammates to sort them out.

NAGANUMA Yoichi (Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth)
The main reason for holding the two-day camp was the training match we had today. In this match, there were stretches when we communicated effectively and played well as a team. However, we did not compete well throughout the match, and there were times where we could not coordinate our plays. Personally, there were moments where I performed well and poorly. There is only a limited time before the final qualifier, and we need to do our best and make the best possible preparation, both as individual and as a team. 

TAKAGI Akito (Gamba Osaka)
Today we had the last day of the training camp for the AFC U-19 Championship. Time was quite limited, but we got through the camp with high level of concentration as a team. In the match today, it was very good that we scored 2 goals the way we planned in the first half. However, in the second half, we conceded goals by allowing the opponents to break through our defence easily. If we perform similarly in the championship in October, our opponents can take control of the match quickly. I believe we could have stopped these goals, if we had been more careful. Thus, we need to play more consistently in the future.

The selected players for the AFC U-19 Championship will play not only for Japan, but also for the players who wanted to play for the national team, but were not called-up. I will do my best to be selected as one of the final members.

Schedule

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