[Reserve]
GK:16 Takahashi Yuto
DF:4 Yumoto Soya
MF:
FW:

Thank you for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-18 today as well.
We appreciate your continued enthusiastic support.

[Next Match]
Takamado Cup JFA U-18 Soccer Premier League 2019 Playoffs
December 15 (Sun) 11:00 Kick-off
vs Montedio Yamagata Youth
Venue/Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Hiroshima Stadium


[Match Report]
"A decisive victory in the first match. A step forward towards returning to the Premier League"
On December 13 (Friday), the 2019 Tohno Cup JFA U-18 Soccer Premier League Playoff 1st Round was held in various locations in Hiroshima Prefecture, where Kanto's top team, FC Tokyo U-18, faced Hokkaido's second team, Asahikawa Jitsugyo High School. They won 5-0 and advanced to the 2nd Round.
The 2nd Round match to determine the victor between Montedio Yamagata U-18 will kick off on December 15 (Sunday) at 11:00 at Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Hiroshima Stadium.

On the 13th at 11 AM, the whistle blew for an important battle towards the return to the Premier League at Hiroshima Wide Area Park First Stadium.
The GK of FC Tokyo U-18 is Taishi Brandon NOZAWA.
Adopting a 3-4-2-1 formation, the final line featured Seiji KIMURA, Rio OMORI, and Teppei OKA. The right wing-back was Shingo MORITA, and the left wing-back was Seong-Bin KIM, with each serving as the corner kick taker.
In the midfield are Kojiro YASUDA and Kota Tokiwa. Up front, the formation includes Kazunori Miyata as the lone striker, with Kojiro Kado and Riku Kobayashi as the two shadows. Regardless of how tough the opponent Asahikawa Jitsugyo may be, there is a determination to surely break through with a lineup that includes J3 members.
Tadashi NAKAMURA, the coach of FC Tokyo U-18, said, "Throughout the season, there are often players unavailable, so I considered using many players who had relatively long playing time" as he explained the intention behind the selection of members.

It may appear to be a one-sided game in the end, but it was by no means an easy match. FC Tokyo U-18 maintained possession of the ball, but they could not break through the defense of Asahikawa Jitsugyo High School, which respected Tokyo and did not come out recklessly, resulting in no goals scored.
Nevertheless, forming a numerical advantage on the side with the wing-backs and shadows, continuing to earn corner kicks even without being able to deliver crosses into the center led to the goals.
The opening goal was in the 28th minute of the first half.
Morita's left corner kick was converted by Tokiwa, taking the lead at 1-0. Then, in the 43rd minute, Kobayashi scored, and in the first half's additional time, Tokiwa scored again from a set piece, leading by 3 goals at halftime.
Then, five minutes into the second half without any substitutions, Kobayashi scored a penalty, extending the lead to four goals, which decided the outcome.

However, the Premier League promotion playoff is not easy enough for a team with poor performance to achieve a complete victory, as uncharacteristic mistakes frequently occur in this tense one-off match.
Asahikawa Jitsugyo High School took control of the game after a player substitution in the 29th minute of the second half, advancing the game within FC Tokyo U-18's territory and preventing any goals. Rather than the game settling down due to a 4-goal lead, it was a situation where Asahikawa Jitsugyo High School was pushing forward. Still, in what was almost the last play, Omori scored an additional goal from a right corner kick, wrapping things up and creating good momentum heading into the 2nd Round.
In the final stages, the proactive approach of switching to a 4-4-2 formation to apply pressure and regain the advantage has paid off.

The opponent in the next match, which will secure a return to the Premier League if we win, is Montedio Yamagata Youth, who defeated Oita Trinita U-18. It goes without saying that they are not to be underestimated, as they are a strong team from Tohoku, regularly challenged by Aomori Yamada High School's second team.

Coach Nakamura reflects, "It was a match that was evenly balanced in terms of content."
"I thought it was great that we were able to score in the first half. In a match like this (tense), it's not unusual for the first half to end 0-0. We're not that skilled of a team, so we need to score through gritty set plays to win. In that sense, I think we showcased our strengths."

While often captivated by the attack, it has been the defense that has earned points for FC Tokyo U-18 this season. In that sense, a clean sheet (no goals conceded) is something to be proud of, but it is also true that the team is not in a condition to boast about it. Coach Nakamura continued as follows.

"It was content that said, 'We can't win like this.' Yamagata is skilled."
There is no antidote to a knockout tournament where losing means the end.
(When asked if high school students can follow instructions as planned, it doesn't go that smoothly. So, in the end, it's about giving it your all. In that sense, we need to consider whether we were able to give our best today.)

The adjustments will continue until the decisive battle begins after a one-day break.
I want to recall the frustration of being relegated from the Prince League and use it as a catalyst.