match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserves]
GK: 16, Haruka Ohno
DF: -
MF: 27, Hiroki Takahashi
FW: 18, Amos Bouzo

○ Match Digest
The 2nd match of the preliminary league in the 2012 J Youth Cup, the 20th J League Youth Championship, was a rematch against Kashima Antlers Youth, the first since the Club Youth Kanto Tournament on June 17. Both teams, having won their opening matches, were eager to secure first place in the preliminary league group with this game. The tough battle against Kashima, who were fired up for revenge, kicked off at 1:00 p.m. at the Kashima Antlers Clubhouse Ground, where rain looked imminent.

At 7 minutes, Tokyo conceded a goal after the opponent dribbled through from the left to the center. They allowed the opening goal. Tokyo wanted to counterattack, but struggled against Kashima’s quick pressing from midfield, and time passed without Tokyo being able to connect passes as they wished. Still, at 22 minutes, they persevered, trying to express Tokyo’s style of soccer while facing forward. From Nihei’s left corner kick, Kamoike headed the ball, and Yajima calmly pushed in the rebound to equalize!! Tokyo’s movement off the ball was superior in this play, and despite being pressed by Kashima who looked for gaps, Tokyo’s defenders calmly continued to respond. However, at 35 minutes, they failed to stop an attack from a long ball by the opponent and conceded a goal. Trailing by one goal, the first half ended 1-2.

“We can’t win playing like this. Kashima reacts quickly to movements and loose balls. If we just go through the motions, we won’t be able to win this match. How do we surpass them?
You should be able to do it with this team,” the players were urged on by Coach Motoyoshi at halftime.
Replacing Tokuda with Onishi and Saito with Iwata, they prepared for a further counterattack and challenged the second half.

At the 57th minute, from Tokyo’s characteristic flowing passing play, Yajima struck with his right foot from Iwata, who had advanced from the right to the center, leveling the score!! The fierce battle continued with neither side giving an inch, but at the 69th minute, a goal was conceded from a difficult angle, allowing the opponent to take the lead 3-2. Wanting to reset the match, Tokyo substituted Sasaki for Koizumi at the 74th minute and Nagasawa for Yoshida at the 84th minute. After that, Onishi repeatedly repelled Kashima’s long-ball attacks, saving the team from danger. Although Tokyo took more shots than Kashima, they lacked finishing power and could not score a third goal. Despite continuing to attack until the end, they were unable to win this high-scoring battle.

In the next match, we will face JEF United Chiba U-18 for the third time this season. It is a battle we absolutely cannot afford to lose in order to advance to the final tournament, but we want to surpass our opponents in every single play, show no weaknesses, and demonstrate "Tokyo's soccer."

Thank you very much for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-18 all the way at the away game today.
We appreciate your continued support in the future.