Training Match
4 January 2015　Kick Off  18:00  Playing Time:90minutes
Cessnock Sports Ground(Australia/Cessnock)

SAMURAI BLUE   2-0（1st 1-0、2nd 1-0） Auckland City FC

Scores
33min  ENDO Yasuhito（SAMURAI BLUE）
89min  OKAZAKI Shinji（SAMURAI BLUE）

Starters
GK： KAWASHIMA Eiji
DF： NAGATOMO Yuto、MORISHIGE Masato、SHIOTANI Tsukasa、SAKAI Gotoku
MF： ENDO Yasuhito、KAGAWA Shinji、HASEBE Makoto
FW：HONADA Keisuke、OKAZAKI Shinji、INUI Takashi

Substitutes
GK： NISHIKAWA Shusaku、HIGASHIGUCHI Masaaki
DF： UEDA Naomichi、OTA Kosuke、SHOJI Gen、YOSHIDA Maya
MF： KIYOTAKE Hiroshi、KONNO Yasuyuki
FW：KOBAYASHI Yu、MUTO Yoshinori

61min   ENDO Yasuhito → KONNO Yasuyuki
61min   KAGAWA Shinji → KIYOTAKE Hiroshi
61min   INUI Takashi → MUTO Yoshinori
85min   SHIOTANI Tsukasa → SHOJI Gen

Non-registered members
MF：SHIBASAKI Gaku、NAKAJIMA Shoya
FW：TOYODA Yohei

Comments

Javier AGUIRRE (Head Coach)
The match wasn’t so easy, but I’m glad to win.
Because the opponents were a good team and played well, we were able to concentrate on the match. It turned out to be an intense training that helped us improve our condition. Today we set a theme to send crosses and quickly move the ball. I saw a lot of crosses and we converted them into goals, but we should have moved the ball more quickly. The second goal came from the play we practiced, and our defenders did well to control themselves throughout the match except a certain moment.

Finishing accuracy wasn’t good enough, but I’m not worried too much because the opposing goalkeeper made some fine saves and we have lots of players who’ve got goal-scoring ability. One week is left till the Asian Cup opener. We will work on quick passing and set play accuracy in the following practices. I’d like to express my great appreciation to Cessnock people for holding such a great match here.

ENDO Yasuhito (Gamba Osaka)
Even though conditions still vary among the players, it’s good to put up a good result in the match as we figure it out. The first thing to do now is to get ourselves in shape. We didn’t have much trouble in defence and dominated the ball, so we needed more goals. For me, it’s going to be the fourth Asian Cup. I have a refreshed mind for the big objective to win the Asian champions. I hope we can show how good Japan are in Asia.

KIYOTAKE Hiroshi (Hannover 96/Germany)
I played the match thinking of how I’m supposed to play in the 4-3-3 system. I will make adjustments on a couple of things to get ready for the following match. I was able to play in a good momentum today again and will try to get involved in more goal-scoring opportunities. I’m getting in better condition to have the opening match in our favour.

OKAZAKI Shinji (1.FSV Mainz 05/Germany)
It’s been just two days since we arrived in Australia. Partially because of the hot temperature, the match wasn’t what we usually have. Even so, it’s great that we kept putting pressure on opponents throughout 90 minutes and played well both in offence and defence. We were able to create lots of chances with side attacks. As that was just how we were trying to do, we only have to improve the finishing accuracy. I will try to get a goal in the Asian Cup opener and work hard to sharpen my senses. We will be strong-minded as a team and play the tournament.

JFA-TV

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