-Day 5-
Yesterday, we finished the closing ceremony of the 6th Vietnam Japan International Youth Cup U-13 tournament at around 17:00, and then went straight to the hotel in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam where the tournament will be held starting today, after a 6 and a half hour journey by bus and plane. The temperature in Gia Lai, northern Vietnam, is below 10℃ (with an average of 15℃ during the day), and the players were surprised by the climate difference.
"1st Round 2024 Son Lamgean International Youth Soccer Tournament"
This tournament is supported and sponsored by Kiraboshi Bank, a premium partner of FC Tokyo. It is an invitation from Son Lamgean FC, a professional soccer team in Vietnam, and will be held in a tournament format with 2 teams from Son Lamgean Academy, PVF, and FC Tokyo.
The players' tension is also rising as the top team plays at their home stadium, where they received a great welcome, including being greeted by the president of Song Lam Nghe An FC.
1st Round was a match against Sonramgean B. The pre-game ceremony included player entrances, bouquet presentations, and national anthem performances, creating a very formal atmosphere.
The match started with a long possession time from the first half, but we were unable to make intentional and effective attacks. We took the lead with a header shot from Murayama Sora in the 8th minute from a corner kick, but we were unable to score any additional points. On the contrary, we were awarded a penalty kick from the opponent's corner kick and they scored, resulting in a tie at the end of the first half. At halftime, we confirmed our midfield ball movement, timing and space to create opportunities, and in the second half, we were able to increase the number of intentional and effective attacks while moving the ball in a steady rhythm. As a result, we scored multiple goals (Nozawa Ryoji, Ono Kyotaro, Hirakawa Yuito, Hirai Yusei) and won 5-1, advancing to the final round in the afternoon.
We visited the dormitory of Sonramgean FC's academy for lunch and had a fun and delicious meal while communicating with the dorm supervisor in the cafeteria.
The final round will be against Sonramgean A.
The final match of this Vietnam expedition. We will give 100% of our strength and do our best to win the championship.
In the first half, both teams actively attacked each other in an open manner. However, in the 15th minute, they were broken through on the right side and conceded a goal in the center. After that, they struggled to effectively attack against the opponent who was defending and looking for counterattacks. On the other hand, in the 3rd minute of the second half, they conceded a goal from a counterattack. They were unable to learn from their mistakes and made many errors due to their impatience, resulting in another goal from a counterattack just before the end of the game, leading to a 0-3 defeat.
Coach Yamaguchi said, "The opponent has been superior in their daily accumulation. The true significance of this expedition is how we bring back the experience of losing in the final round two days in a row to Japan. In the end, daily accumulation is the most important. And above all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who have experienced this great stage."
After the game, a grand party was held with all team players participating. In the entertainment, players from Fukagawa took the lead in involving players from other teams, and the venue was undoubtedly the most exciting of the day. They were definitely the winners in the interleague party of this tournament!
I was able to gain a very valuable experience that cannot be experienced anywhere else in Japan, both on and off the pitch. As Coach Yamaguchi mentioned, it is not the result of this tournament, but rather how our daily lives will change and what kind of progress we can make that will truly determine the value of this expedition for the players.
Tomorrow we will move to Ho Chi Minh and then return after sightseeing.
