match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserves]
GK: 16, Tsubasa Ishihara
DF: -
MF: 14, Kaho Koizumi, 18, Ryota Yanazono, 36, Shibumi Tsukada
FW: -

○Match Digest
The weather forecast predicted heavy cold with snow, but it turned out to be clear and sunny, with no wind and warm at the Unzen City Kunimi General Sports Park Multipurpose Lawn Field.
The opponent in the 2nd Round of the 23rd Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Youth (U-15) Soccer Championship was Vegalta Sendai Junior Youth, featuring large players including some who are 186 cm tall. Confident from overcoming a tough battle in the 1st Round, they aimed to seize the win. The intense match kicked off at 11:00 a.m.

"It was a cautious game throughout. Both sides were cautious and the pace was slow, but we wanted to score early and take control." Coach Ninomiya, who passionately motivates the team from the bench every match, said this calmly after the game.

The first half unfolded slowly as the team played while observing the opponent. They carefully maintained possession while looking for opportunities to attack.
At 1 minute into the game, Tokyo, eager to take control, took a free kick awarded due to an opponent's foul, which Shimodaira took. Takahashi connected with the ball, but the GK caught it.
Possession centered around Tokyo's back line of Tamiya, Takada, Kuramoto, and Murakami. They created attacking opportunities while making side changes.
At the 5th minute, Shinohara received the ball from Sasaki in the center. Sasaki overlapped and made a run, but the ball slipped away and was caught by the opposing goalkeeper.
The opponents did not remain silent either. They aggressively contested the ball, but Takada, who said "We were able to perform steadily in the first half," intercepted the ball multiple times, preventing them from entering the vital area.
Although caught on a counterattack from a loose ball, Shimodaira ran back to the defense and cleared the ball powerfully, calmly repelling the attacks even when under pressure.
At the 9th minute, careful passing was carried out in midfield, and Tamiya, who received the ball, connected it to Sasaki. Sasaki’s ball reached Sakagami up front. Shimodaira made a run around the goal, but the pass from Sakagami was caught by the opposing goalkeeper.
From here, intense offense and defense continued. The ball was taken away, but it was lost again due to the opponent’s fast pressing and compact defense. This back-and-forth of skillful body movement and technique to regain possession went on, with both sides struggling to break through.
Tokyo broke the deadlock. At 21 minutes, Shimodaira received the ball from a throw-in and, while shielding three opposing defenders, connected to Murakami. Murakami passed the ball to Sakamoto, but it drifted past the goal line.
One minute later, Sasaki broke through the right side with a dribble and passed to Tamiya. The ball was then passed from Tamiya to Sakamoto, but Sakamoto was surrounded by three opposing defenders and the ball was cleared. However, Tamiya regained possession and lofted the ball to Sakamoto up front, but unfortunately, they just missed connecting.
At the 25th minute, GK Hane's long kick led to a one-two between Shimodaira and Tamiya on the right side. However, the opponent's DF cleared it. The first throw-in was cleared, but on the second throw-in, Sakamoto dribbled past two opposing DFs and passed to Tamiya.
Tamiya delivered a superb cross in front of the goal, but no one made a run, so the chance slipped away. Immediately after, the ball was passed from Tamiya to Takahashi to Sasaki, and Tamiya, who overlapped, took a shot. There were also moments when Sakamoto on the front line sent the ball to the left side, and Shinohara unleashed a powerful shot. Although many chances were created, none resulted in a decisive goal.
However, they were met with the opponent's quick defensive transitions and fine saves, making it impossible to break through the goalmouth.

At halftime, it was confirmed among the players that chances would arise if they continued doing what they usually do, to attack the spaces created by the opponent's attacking patterns, and to coordinate defense and offense with each other.
To break this deadlock, the second-year duo of Nishimoto at SB was brought in to replace Murakami, and Ryo Sato at SH was brought in to replace Shinohara.
As per the instructions given to Ryo Sato—to create a base on the side and distribute the ball to the FW, and also to become a base himself and go for the goal—Tokyo aims to score and take control of the game.

Right after the start of the second half, they created chances from both sides using Tamiya at the back line as a base. At the 41st minute, Tamiya passed to Sasaki, and Shimodaira ran into the space on the right side but the timing did not connect. Immediately after, a long feed was sent to Sakamoto on the left side, but it was blocked by the opposing defender.
Substitutes Ryo SATO and Nishimoto also showed great activity. Nishimoto on the right side organized the attack. At the 47th minute, Nishimoto passed to SASAKI, who quickly passed to Shimodaira, who ran into the wide-open space on the right side. Shimodaira crossed the ball in front of the goal, and Ryo SATO reacted with a header, but it went wide to the left of the goal.
At the 49th minute, the battle in front of the goal continued, but Sasaki made a quick decision and cleared the ball widely before the opponent could receive it. However, the loose ball was taken by the opponent, who sent in a cross, but GK Hane securely caught it.
As the physical battles for the ball intensified, Tokyo, eager to score quickly, made a substitution at the 55th minute, bringing on Akatsuka for Sakamoto to aim for a new offensive development.
On the left side, coordinated plays between Takada, Akatsuka, and Ryo SATO carried the ball into the area in front of the goal, while on the right side, Shimodaira passed to SASAKI, then to Nishimoto who overlapped and took a mid-range shot, but they were unable to shake the net.
Gradually, the opponent's pressing intensified, and although attacks were built from both sides, they were intercepted, and the game shifted to a flow where Tokyo began to be pushed back, relying on physical defense to hold on.
At the 60th minute, Akatsuka received a throw-in from Tamiya on the right side and passed it to Takahashi. Takahashi dribbled forward and passed to Sasaki. Sasaki's long-range shot went outside the goal frame. Immediately after, the situation turned dangerous. They faced a counterattack from a cut ball. Shimodaira and Sasaki quickly returned to the front of the goal, and Takada cleared this dangerous situation.
At the 65th minute, Nishimoto picked up a loose ball and tried to connect to Ryo SATO, who was running into the center, but their timing was slightly off. Immediately after, SASAKI, Takahashi, Akatsuka, and Shimodaira pushed up and down the left side, but they couldn't overcome the opponent's five defenders and ultimately lost possession.
At the 69th minute, Ryo SATO passed to Enomoto, who ran down the left side. Enomoto made a large side change to Shimohira. Shimohira crossed in front of the goal, and Akatsuka connected with a header, but it went well over.
At the 71st minute, the opponent with the ball launched a quick counterattack. Reacting to the opponent's transition between offense and defense, Nishimoto ran back and cleared the ball far away.
Both teams desperately want to score before the end of the match. The game suddenly shifts into a fast-paced development.
At the 75th minute, an interception leads to a dribble breakthrough through the center, resulting in a goal against.
Not wanting to end like this, at the 78th minute, Nishimoto quickly passes to Shimohira. From Shimohira, the ball goes through Sasaki, and finally, Ryo SATO evades the opposing defender and unleashes a powerful shot, but mercilessly it just misses to the right of the goal.
They kept running toward the goal until the end of the match, but the game ended 0-1. The players collapsed on the pitch, unable to stop their tears.

The match, as Coach Ninomiya said, "Looking back, the opponent's attacking play had expanded significantly. There was no composure in the transition from defense to attack," saw a long period in the second half where they faced the opponent's attacks, creating a situation where conceding a goal was not unexpected.
Shimodaira reflected, "It was a match we could have won, so it was a shame. The opponents had many large players and gave us a hard time, but there were things we could have done." Captain Sasaki expressed his frustration, saying, "It was a match we could have all played together until the end, so it was disappointing. We couldn’t fully show what we had worked on as a team for three years."
"For the third-year teammates who couldn't come, the second and first years, and also for the backup GK Ishihara and Yamaguchi, who was suspended... It is precisely because each of us did our roles with all our effort that we have come this far. We are truly grateful to everyone," said the third-year students, including Sasaki, Shimodaira, and Takada.
Although they shed tears of frustration over the defeat, Takada said, "But I was blessed with great teammates, and I was able to give my all during the three years at Musashi."

The third-year students are expected to take what they have cultivated over their three years at Musashi to their respective new stages and demonstrate it.
And "The current third-year students had strong team unity and a good atmosphere. They participated in national tournaments both in summer and winter. We want to become even better than the third-years," said Ryo SATO. The juniors who have watched the third-years’ backs will cherish the experience they have accumulated and move forward to new battles next season.

Thank you for your support during the 2011 season as well.
Please continue to warmly watch over the players' growth and U-15 Musashi.