[Reserve]
GK:30 Yuto TAKAHASHI
DF:29 Ryo TAKAHASHI
MF:19 Asahi HAGA, 20 Taichi NAKATANI
FW:

○Match Report
【Challenge to the next stage】
The opponent in Sec. 9, the last match of the first half of the 2017 Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Football League Premier League EAST, is our rival Aomori Yamada High School, who competed for the championship in last year's Premier League EAST and lost the title in a dramatic turnaround in the final match.
This week's match, where both teams are tied with 16 points this season, is a direct confrontation against the top-ranked Shimizu S-Pulse Youth, closing in with just a 1-point difference.
We want to win at all costs.
The rain that has been falling since morning occasionally intensified, and the match kicked off at 11:00.

[First Half]
Right from the start, we were overwhelmed by the opponent's powerful attacks centered around long kicks, and as we struggled to find our rhythm, we conceded the opening goal.
In the 6th minute, a free kick is awarded due to a handball near the central penalty area, and it is scored directly.
After that, the team struggled with the opponent's pressure and the slippery ground due to the rain, unable to increase their possession time, and the match progressed without finding a way to counterattack.
In the 25th minute, due to a miscommunication in the defensive line, we failed to call offside, creating a decisive one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Takase, but Takase's brave advance sent the opponent's shot off target.
After about 30 minutes, they gradually started to retain possession of the ball but were unable to score, going into halftime behind.

【Halftime】
Coach Sato
"This is the best situation to test our strength. Let's enjoy fighting against a team with such high pressure. We can definitely turn this around."

【Second Half】
As Tokyo gradually increases their possession of the ball, Sugiyama becomes the starting point as Yoshida and Imamura actively approach the opponent's goal.
However, due to the opponent's solid defense, it is difficult to get to the shot.
Still, Tokyo launches an offensive from the right side with Yokoyama and Okaniwa, and from the left side with the substitutes Suzuki and Arakawa, attempting to break through multiple times but unable to create any decisive chances.
The situation continues where we can't approach the goal while maintaining possession of the ball.
In the 83rd minute, first-year player Kobayashi (Sato), who is making his Premier League debut, was brought in to replace Imamura, aiming to further invigorate the attack.
In the 88th minute, Fushino broke through the defensive line from Sugiyama's through pass, facing the GK one-on-one despite the tight angle.
The shot taken with great determination was deflected by the GK, and Yoshida quickly reacted to the loose ball, but his shot was blocked by the opposing defender, resulting in no goal.
After that, they continued to aim for the goal without ever giving up until the end, but the match ended 0-1 in front of Aomori Yamada's solid defense.

It was a frustrating defeat again this year.
Towards the 41st Japan Club Youth Football Championship (U-18) starting next week.
Furthermore, it became a valuable match with a lot to learn as we head into the latter half of the Premier League.
First of all, we want to face the upcoming Club Youth Championship as a united team and give it our all.

Thank you very much for your warm support for the players.
We appreciate your continued support for FC Tokyo U-18.