<Match Review>
The Japan Club Youth Soccer Championship (U-18), which can be said to be a summer tradition, is in its 47th edition. Kawasaki Frontale U-18, who advanced through the group stage held in Gunma Prefecture with 1 win and 2 draws, and has also performed well in the 2023 EAST of the Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League, defeated Thales 2-1 and Yokohama F.Marinos Youth 4-1, advancing to the Semifinal Round and returning to Tokyo.
1st HALF - A tense first half. We allowed the opening goal.
The match, which started with a kickoff in Tokyo, saw a press from the front line on the opponent's defense line during the 5th minute of the first half, inducing a passing error from the opponent. The stolen ball was spread to the right side, where Kaneko Shunsuke received it, elegantly evading the defender and sending a quick ball in front of the goal. Watanabe TSUBASA dove in but couldn't connect well.
They continue to advance the ball to the front line, but they are met with the opponent's solid defense and cannot get a shot off as they would like. Gradually, Shimizu S-Pulse Youth begins to create time with wide attacks, and scenes of the ball being advanced to the goal area become prominent, but centered around Shuto NAGANO, they put their bodies on the line at the last moment, not giving the opponent any freedom.
However, in the 35th minute of the first half, a corner kick was awarded to Shimizu, and Nishihara headed it in, allowing the first goal. After that, the back-and-forth battle continued, but we could not catch up and ended the first half at 0-1.
2nd HALF—With a fierce attack scoring 4 goals, advancing to the Final Round
In the second half, Tokyo raises the banner of counterattack. Just four minutes into the second half, Kaede SUZUKI quickly seizes the ball after a trap mistake and exchanges passes with Taiyo YAMAGUCHI. He sends the ball to Ryunosuke SATO, who skillfully carries it while competing with an opponent, and takes a shot with his left foot after a clever deep cutback. The shot is unfortunately blocked by the opponent, but they earn a corner kick from the sequence. Yuta SUGAWARA delivers the ball with his left foot, and Shuto NAGANO manages to meet it with his head while competing with an opponent, successfully bringing the game to an even state early on.
From here, Tokyo's attacking power shifts up a gear, then another.
In the 13th minute of the second half, from Wataru GOTO's goal kick, Ryunosuke SATO broke through with a dribble and struck with his right foot. The opposing goalkeeper deflected the ball, which was calmly slotted in by Taiyo YAMAGUCHI to equalize. Shortly after, they took the lead, and the momentum did not stop there. In the 20th minute of the second half, Yuta SUGAWARA applied intense pressure on an opponent who picked up the ball deep in enemy territory. He continued to chase, limiting the opponent's passing options while applying pressure, and his teammates joined in to form a high defensive line. When the opposing goalkeeper struggled to clear under the intense pressure, Kaede SUZUKI recovered the ball in a high position in the opponent's half. After a series of precise passes, the ball was connected to Taiyo YAMAGUCHI, who struck with his left foot from a tight angle on the left side of the goal area. Although the ball lost some momentum after hitting the goalkeeper's foot, it was driven into the goal, securing the third point and pulling ahead of Shimizu.
Tokyo, gaining momentum, saw player Shunsuke Kaneko steal the ball from a fierce contest on the right side of their own half in the 28th minute of the second half, initiating a counterattack. He sprinted solo to a position directly in front of the penalty area and spread the play to the left side. After receiving a return pass from a teammate in front of the goal, Shunsuke Kaneko calmly finished to score the fourth goal, extending their lead and sealing the victory. They continued to manage the game calmly, conceding a second goal to Shimizu in the 40+4 minute of the second half, but the match ended 4-2. They advanced to the Final Round for the first time in three years.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo U-18>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Wataru GOTO
DF Shuto NAGANO/Jumpei ISHIDO/Seisa NUMATA (substituted at 37 minutes: Shoei SASAKI)/Shunsuke KANEKO
MF Tsubasa WATANABE (substituted at 27 minutes: Kisei YOSHIDA)/Ryunosuke SATO/Kodai TANABE (substituted at 27 minutes: Kio TANAKA)/Kaede SUZUKI (substituted at 39 minutes: Romeo ITO)/Yuta SUGAWARA
FW Taiyo YAMAGUCHI (substituted at 37 minutes: Divine OTANI)
SUBS
GK Masataka KOBAYASHI
DF Takamasa KANEKO
MF Shun KOGA/Hyugo OMACHI
GOAL
4th minute of the second half: Shuto NAGANO / 13th minute of the second half: Taiyo YAMAGUCHI / 20th minute of the second half: Taiyo YAMAGUCHI / 28th minute of the second half: Shunsuke KANEKO
<Shimizu S-Pulse Youth>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Oishi Ikufuu
DF Iwasaki Kaiga/Iwamoto Shogo/Arimura Shuto/Iwao Kenryu
MF Narumi OTA/Naru HOSHITO (substituted in 8 minutes of the second half: Okada Tamaha)/Ryunosuke YADA/Sean KOTAKE (substituted in 25 minutes of the second half: Nakano Takuto)/Nishihara Genki
FW Jigen TANAKA (substituted in 35 minutes of the second half: Tashiro Hiroto)
SUBS
GK Kaito SHIBASAKI
DF Naruki ISHIKAWA/Taro MURAKAMI/Soutaro HIRA
MF Atsuki NAKAYAMA/Kyogo IWANAGA
GOAL
35th minute of the first half: Genki Nishihara, 40+4 minutes of the second half: Genki Nishihara
[Coach Takashi OKUHARA Post-Match Comments]
Q, please review the game.
A, I watched several matches of Shimizu S-Pulse Youth and thought they were a very strong team. I had somewhat anticipated that there would be periods when we would be pressed back, and the key was how patiently we could fight through those times. I believe the number of shots we faced was also high, but we managed to keep the first half to just one goal conceded. Ideally, players would communicate and adjust during the match, but we had a good conversation at halftime that was able to motivate the players once again. I think that was a significant factor.
Q: What adjustments did you instruct during halftime?
A, simply put, it means "players communicating properly with each other." We base it on having two-way conversations. Since that part was stalled, rather than focusing on tactics, we corrected the issue of communication breakdowns.
Q: Please tell us the factors that allowed you to surpass Shimizu in terms of decisiveness.
A, I cannot share specific details, but I believe the factor was that the efforts accumulated through daily practice bore fruit as a result, and the players were able to play with confidence because of that.
Q, I got the impression that Ryunosuke SATO's performance was the key factor in important moments, including the scene of the second goal.
A, I think today was not a good day for him in terms of ball feeling, but including his mental aspect, he managed to recover well during the match. Starting with the encouragement from the third-year players, I believe it is because of the support from his teammates that Ryunosuke SATO has been able to grow.
Q: Taiyo YAMAGUCHI scored two goals typical of a striker.
A himself went through a difficult period due to injuries. During that time, by reviewing his diet and improving his physical conditioning, I believe his ball control has become several times better than before. Additionally, since he possesses high scoring ability, I think, "This is far from his best yet."
Q, Yuta SUGAWARA's press back that led to the third goal was very effective.
A, his athletic ability has been proven numerically in this tournament. The third goal in the previous match against Yokohama F.Marinos Youth is a good example, and I believe his high defensive skills and play that adds an accent to the attack show that he is performing well despite being a first-year student.
Q: We are one win away from the championship.
A, I want to fight without any misunderstandings. We have been struggling in the Premier League, and in the first half of the season, we only managed to win twice. The whole team has built up something so far, and among them, players returning from injuries and national team duties have rejoined, so I think the team strength is improving. We want to keep our humility until the end and continue to play the same way as before.
[Player Interview]
<Taiyo YAMAGUCHI>
Q, please review today's game.
A, The start of the first half was not good, and we conceded a goal, but I think it was good that everyone talked together at halftime and the whole team was able to switch gears. In the second half, Shuto NAGANO quickly scored one goal back, which gave us momentum, and we were able to score multiple goals, two and three. It was also good that I was able to score in that positive flow.
Q, please review your first goal scene.
When Ryunosuke SATO took the shot, I thought it might rebound. By chance, it came right in front of me, so I’m glad I was able to score. I’m always aiming for rebounds, so I’m happy I could finish it.
Q: I think the second goal was scored with a powerful left foot and determination.
A, the shot hit the goalkeeper and went in, but since it was a pattern we had been working on in practice, I think it was good that I was able to make use of the left foot's characteristics in the Semifinal Round situation.
Q: If we win the next match, we will be champions.
A, Since the tournament started, I have been aiming for the championship, so I will give my all and definitely win.
<Shuto NAGANO>
Q, please review the game.
A, for the first time in this tournament, we fell behind first and ended the first half that way. It was a tough match, but we were able to reset our mindset during halftime, and I think it was good that we managed to make a solid comeback in the second half. Right after the second half started, it was great to score from a set piece at a good moment.
Q: After the halftime break, we gained momentum in the second half.
At AJINOMOTO FIELD NISHIGAOKA, our home in Tokyo, many fans and supporters came to cheer us on. We were not losing in spirit, so at halftime, we reaffirmed what we needed to say on the pitch. Although we were behind, we approached the second half with the determination to definitely turn the game around. I think it was good that we were able to equalize early in the second half from a set piece.
Q, please review the scoring scene.
From the group stage, good balls were coming in, and I thought good balls would come up again today, so I believe the determination to definitely score from those opportunities led to the goal.
Q, many fans and supporters came to cheer.
Even in the situation where we were scored against first, we could hear the cheers, and that became motivation to turn the game around. Today's result is thanks to the support from the cheers. We are grateful to all the fans and supporters who cheered for us.
Q, please say a few words about the Final Round.
A, I think the Final Round will be a tougher match than ever before, but I want to fight with pride carrying the Tokyo emblem on my back. I want to fight bearing the feelings of the fans and supporters who cheer for us, our families, and the players who couldn't make the team, and I want to seize the championship.
<Ryunosuke SATO>
Q: Please reflect on the match.
A, the first half was a difficult development, but we had a good discussion at halftime. With positive encouragement, we were able to start the second half well. We scored repeatedly with good momentum, and I think the second half was a perfect game.
Q: It seemed that Ryunosuke SATO's strengths were particularly showcased in the second half.
In the second half, I think both the team and individuals were able to play well. For the fourth assist, I could have taken a shot, but I prioritized the best choice to score and win, and was able to play calmly.
Q: Many fans and supporters came to today's match as well.
A, you were a great support. You delivered passionate cheers for our play, which was very encouraging. I believe this victory was achieved by the entire Tokyo family together.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the Final Round.
Although we have not been able to achieve good results in the league matches, I believe that by uniting the team along with all the fans and supporters, we have been able to reach the Final Round. We will fight together in the last match and aim to seize the title of "Japan's Best" at Nishigaoka. We appreciate your continued passionate support.
◇For details about the tournament, please see here
