Match Review
The Final Round of the 47th Japan Club Youth Soccer Championship (U-18) was held one day after the Semifinal Round against Shimizu S-Pulse Youth on July 31. The match was against Gamba Osaka Youth, who they faced in the first match of the tournament. In the group stage, the result was a 1-1 draw against this opponent.
In the Final Round, aiming to win the championship for the first time in six years after three years, we approached the match determined to win and achieve victory in Tokyo.
1st HALF—A match where neither side gives in. The teams go into halftime tied.
The final match began with a kickoff from Gamba Osaka Youth. Both teams maintained possession of the ball while aiming for the goal, but the match progressed in a stalemate as both sides displayed high concentration in front of the goal, preventing any shots. In the 13th minute of the first half, a long feed from Shuto NAGANO initiated a play on the left side, where he maintained possession of the ball. With the cooperation of Ryunosuke SATO and Watanabe TSUBASA, they broke through and entered the penalty area, but could not take a shot due to the solid defense of Gamba Osaka Youth. Then, in the 16th minute of the first half, a long pass from the opposing center-back went over Shuto NAGANO's head and reached Ando from Gamba Osaka Youth, who dribbled in and took a shot, but Wataru GOTO calmly deflected the ball, averting the crisis.
After that, a back-and-forth battle continued, resuming from the opponent's goal kick after the water break. Although the opponent's goalkeeper's kick was cleared once, the ball was picked up and attacked from the right side. When player Ando received the ball near the right corner of the penalty area, he trapped it and immediately struck with his right foot. The ball hit the right post and was drawn into the goal, allowing the first goal to be conceded following the Semifinal Round.
However, Tokyo immediately launched a counterattack. Seisa NUMATA stole the ball in midfield, and Yuta SUGAWARA passed it to Ryunosuke SATO. They quickly advanced up the right side and passed to Shunsuke KANEKO, who had come up to support from behind. With a direct cross, Taiyo YAMAGUCHI headed the ball to quickly equalize. From the kickoff after conceding the goal, the ball never stopped, and they caught up to tie the game.
Tokyo kept possession with the same momentum and created chances, but could not score, ending the first half at 1-1.
2nd HALF—Dramatic goal leads to extra time
In the second half, both teams continued to exchange attacks, and in the 29th minute, the match changed. Although they maintained possession of the ball, they were unable to penetrate the penalty area. Ryunosuke SATO, Watanabe TSUBASA, and Seisa NUMATA connected to deliver a cross, but it was cleared and resulted in a corner kick. The ball kicked by Yuta SUGAWARA was headed by Shuto NAGANO in front of the goalkeeper. This shook the goal net and successfully turned the game around. After that, Gamba Osaka increased their momentum to equalize. They recovered the ball with intense pressing from the front line. It was a difficult time for Tokyo.
In the 36th minute of the second half, the ball was taken in midfield and spread to the left side. Player Tōno created space from the defender with a feint, received the ball in the vital area, compactly swung his right foot, and the ball was drawn into the top right corner of the goal, equalizing the score. After that, both teams focused on a fierce battle for the ball in midfield. Just as it seemed the second half would end, the match shifted during the nearing end of the 4 minutes of added time.
When caught off guard by the opponent's throw-in, the throw-in ball was headed away, allowing Takei to break into the penalty area. The ball was slid to the near side with his left foot, and Tokyo conceded a comeback goal just before the end of the match.
However, the drama was not over yet. Just when it seemed the match would end like this, a dramatic development occurred in the final play. From the kickoff, the ball was circulated to attack inside the opponent's half. Kisei Yoshida on the right side delivered a cross with his left foot, and Shuto NAGANO, running in from behind, connected with a header to shake the goal net. The whistle signaling the end of the 80th minute blew there, and the heated match, which was leveled in the last play, went into overtime.
EXTRA TIME—The closely contested match ended without a result and went to a penalty shootout
As the match went into extra time, both teams seemed to be affected by fatigue from consecutive matches in the sweltering summer heat, leading to an increase in simple mistakes. In that moment, Tokyo seized a brief opportunity. Seisa NUMATA's pass found Taiyo YAMAGUCHI, who broke free and entered the penalty area, but his left-footed shot was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper's advance. After that, Tokyo continued to attack but lacked the final precision to convert their efforts into goals.
Even after entering the second half of extra time, Ryunosuke SATO created chances with his dribbling breakthrough, but the opposing players defended well and could not score. There was a moment when they were caught off guard and a shot was taken, but Wataru GOTO responded calmly. Tokyo created multiple chances but could not convert them into goals, and the match ended, leading to a penalty shootout.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Tokyo, kicking first, saw their first kicker Ryunosuke SATO miss wide, failing the first shot. The following kickers, Yuta SUGAWARA as second, Kisei Yoshida as third, and Shuto NAGANO as fourth, calmly scored, while the opponent's fourth kicker missed over the goal, tying the score at 4-4. The fifth kicker for Tokyo was Taiyo YAMAGUCHI, who had the team's highest number of goals so far. He aimed to score here to put pressure on the opposing Gamba Osaka kicking second, but the opponent's goalkeeper made a save. It became a tough situation where if the opponent's fifth kicker scored, Tokyo would lose. Standing firm was Wataru GOTO. When the opponent's kicker shot the ball on a trajectory close to the center, GOTO blocked it with his remaining foot, keeping the match alive. Afterwards, both sides calmly scored up to the sixth kicker, leading to the seventh. Tokyo's seventh kicker, Masahide Sasaki, aimed the ball opposite to the goalkeeper, but missed the goal frame. The opponent's seventh kicker calmly scored, ending the match. Tokyo showed persistent resilience by repeatedly catching up, but fell just short and finished as runners-up in the tournament.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo U-18>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Wataru GOTO
DF Shuto NAGANO/Jumpei ISHIDO/Seisa NUMATA/Toshiyuki KANEKO (8 minutes into extra time: Shoei SASAKI)
MF Watanabe TSUBASA (1 minute into extra time: Divine CHINEDU OYA) / Ryunosuke SATO/Kota TANABE (15 minutes into the second half: Kisei YOSHIDA)/Kaede SUZUKI/Yuta SUGAWARA
FW Taiyo YAMAGUCHI
SUBS
GK Masataka KOBAYASHI
DF Takamasa KANEKO/Yuki IWATA
MF Romeo ITO/Hyugo OMACHI/Kio TANAKA
GOAL
28th minute of the first half: Taiyo YAMAGUCHI / 24th minute of the second half: Shuto NAGANO / 40+6 minutes: Shuto NAGANO
<Gamba Osaka Youth>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Ryota ARAKI
DF Yona Mine Koutarou/Daiki YAMAGUCHI
MF Izumi Keibo/Daiki MIYAGAWA (1 minute into extra time: Hikaru ENDO)/Ookura Shinpei (6 minutes into extra time: Nakajima Yuugo)/Furukawa Kanta/Morita Masamitsu
FW Okamoto Hinata (30 minutes into the second half: Takei Ryoutarou)/Amano Yuto (34 minutes into the second half: Tonno Taisei)/Andou Rikuto (30 minutes into the second half: Hisanaga Torajirou)
SUBS
GK Joshua Steiman
DF Ko HASEGAWA
MF Yuta SASAKI/Tenma YAMAMOTO
GOAL
26th minute of the first half: Riku Ando/37th minute of the second half: Taisei Tono/40+4 minutes of the second half: Ryotaro Takei
[Coach Takashi OKUHARA Post-Match Comments]
Q, please review the game.
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Club Youth Federation for organizing such a wonderful tournament, and to the teams from Tokyo, who are usually our rivals, for managing the two matches in a way that created a home-like atmosphere after returning to AJINOMOTO FIELD NISHIGAOKA.
Although we couldn't ultimately become champions with today's results, I spoke to the players after the match about not stopping their journey to becoming professionals and continuing to value each day starting from tomorrow.
Gamba Osaka Youth is a truly wonderful team, where players analyze each other and engage in plays to neutralize strengths as well as to showcase their own. It was fair play, and there were points for us to learn from, so I want to work hard every day to ensure we can win the next time we compete.
Q: The match against the opponent in the first game of the group stage has become the Final Round. Did you feel any differences compared to the opening match?
A, we also recognized that we were able to improve our strength while competing in the group stage and the tournament, but Gamba Osaka's precision had also increased. I think there were more scenes where we were on the back foot.
Q: It was a very tense match. What do you think were the factors that allowed you to cope well with the summer heat and consecutive matches, and what do you think were the reasons for not being able to win in the penalty shootout?
In the Premier League, we struggled and conceded many goals in the final additional time during the first half of the season. In that sense, I believe we have grown significantly throughout this tournament in terms of not looking down even when conceding goals, and staying united as a team to endure until the very end. The final decisive moments require not only mental strength but also skills and judgment, all of which are crucial. We were mindful of that, and I think the players fought well. If I had to say something, I do have some regrets about my decisions and assessing the players' fatigue levels. However, including rest days, I have closely observed every move of the players, and I am confident that I demonstrated my tactical ability to the fullest as of today.
Q, I believe that the growth of the younger students was significant in this tournament.
A, I believe the key to struggling in the Premier League lies in that aspect. How the third-year students accept the underclassmen will be crucial. In this tournament, the third-year students successfully embraced the first-year students, and the first-year students learned to face soccer with humility. I think this tournament was one where they could achieve a sense of unity that we had never seen before. Until now, we hadn't seen first-year players shed tears, but this time, we saw some of them crying. Players who seemed indifferent to competition were deeply moved after watching today's opponent win the championship, which was very positive. I hope they will carry this forward into the future.
[Player Interview]
<Watanabe TSUBASA>
Q, please review today's game.
A, today's match was so intense that I hardly remember it. The emotional ups and downs were significant, making it the most enjoyable match of my life so far.
Q, in this tournament, you were the one wearing the captain's armband and leading the team.
A, at first when I heard I would become the captain, I was a bit anxious because I didn't really see myself as the type to be a captain. In the first match of the tournament against Gamba Osaka Youth, I wasn't able to behave properly as a captain, so comparing the first and last matches against Gamba Osaka, I think today I was able to raise my voice as a captain and look around to speak to individuals.
Q: Do you think the experience from this tournament will contribute to your future play? How will you utilize it?
A, I believe that not only I but the entire team was able to grow significantly through this tournament. Even though we are currently struggling in 11th place in the Premier League, we want to become a team that can aim for the top positions.
Q: The Premier League will continue after this. Please say a word to the fans and supporters.
A, today as well, you supported us all the way to the final penalty shootout. Not only my teammates, but also the fans and supporters cheering for us made it possible to advance to the Final Round. Because of that, I want to continue working hard to show our best performance in the Premier League as a way to give back.
<Player Kisei Yoshida>
Q, please review today's game.
A, today's match started with us conceding the first goal. It was a bad start, similar to the Semifinal Round where we also allowed the first goal, but I think it was good that we didn't hang our heads and were able to score back to stay competitive.
Q, in this tournament, we also saw the third-year students leading the team despite many substitutions.
A, after all, since I came in midway, I thought I contributed by changing the flow, scoring, and helping secure the win.
Q, many fans and supporters came to cheer.
A, as expected, the cheers from teammates not registered in this tournament, as well as from parents, fans, and supporters, resonated deeply in our hearts and gave us strength. We believe that it was precisely because of that atmosphere that we were able to have a stronger sense of unity.
Q: The Premier League continues. Please share your enthusiasm.
A, although the result of this tournament was runner-up, we do not want to be swayed by this and intend to steadily continue building up. We hope that fans and supporters will continue to cheer for us.
<Shuto NAGANO>
Q, please review the game.
A, we were able to equalize near the end of the second half, so we really wanted to win this match at all costs. I believe the opponent also approached the game with strong determination. As a defensive player, I conceded three goals, so I hope to improve on that.
Q: I believe the feeling of determination to score in the final scene led me to the goal.
A, since there was little time left, I thought the game would end as it was if we didn't do something. The moment the ball flowed to the right side, I thought to myself, "This is coming," so even though I was far from the goal, I was only thinking about definitely scoring. I headed the ball with all my might, and it went into the goal, so I'm glad.
Q: What do you think are the factors that have allowed you to become stronger throughout the tournament despite struggling in the Premier League?
As you can see from the standings in the Premier League, the team was not doing well, but I believe that everyone on the team had strong feelings about this tournament. During the period held in Gunma Prefecture, the players communicated with each other and reflected on their play through meetings, and I feel that the relationships between players improved with each match.
Q: Do you have any feelings about the number "3" on your jersey?
Number A is worn by players who can play both center back and midfield, such as Masato MORISHIGE in the top team and Kanta DOI, who was with FC Tokyo U-18 until last season. Since this number has been worn by players who play a central role in the team, it carries a lot of significance.
Q, many fans and supporters visited AJINOMOTO FIELD NISHIGAOKA.
There were fans and supporters who had been cheering for us since the group stage in Gunma Prefecture, and not only in the Semifinal Round but especially in the Final Round, the cheers were incredible. Although we ended up losing, the support definitely reached us. Even in a tough match, I believe we were able to fight all the way to the penalty shootout thanks to the cheers.
<Wataru GOTO>
Q, please review today's game.
A, despite conceding the first goal, we quickly caught up and scored additional points, but in the final closing moments, our weakness showed and we were overtaken. As a team, we managed to equalize in the end, but I was very frustrated that I couldn't stop the ball in the penalty shootout at the end.
Q, please review the tournament.
The tournament started while we were struggling in the Premier League, but the team was able to grow with each match, and the third-year students took the lead to create a strong sense of unity. Although we lost in the Final Round, it was impressive that we were able to play in an exceptionally good atmosphere like never before.
Q, you made a series of great saves throughout the tournament.
A, we conceded 3 goals again today, so only challenges remain. There were many mid-range shots today, so I want to improve my shot-stopping ability to stop those shots and my coaching to move my teammates.
Q: The matches will continue from here. Please send a message to the fans and supporters.
Although the results were not favorable in the first half of the Premier League, many fans and supporters came to cheer us on, so in the second half, we want to continue winning in the Premier League for the fans and supporters as well.
