match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserve]
GK:31, Louis YAMAGUCHI
DF:29, Kaito TAKAHASHI
MF:34, Takuya UCHIDA, 17, Yuki JOGATAKI, 23, Naoya IWAMOTO, 20, Akitoshi HISHIYAMA
FW:-

○Match Digest
Tokyo, having topped their group with five consecutive wins in the second league of the Japan Club Youth Soccer Championship (U-18) Kanto Tournament, secured the right to participate in the national tournament. Today (June 21), the group leaders face off in a ranking match to determine the top team in Kanto. Their opponent is Yokohama F.Marinos, who suffered a heavy 1-7 defeat in the Prince League. Tokyo, also competing in the Tokyo Soccer Tournament for the Emperor's Cup at 5:50 p.m. on the same day, split their team into two squads, each aiming for victory in their respective matches. The match venue is Nasu Sports Park in Tochigi Prefecture. The match kicked off at 3:00 p.m. with Tokyo taking the ball.

Before the match, Coach Migita, leading the team, conveyed the U-18 concept for this season: "Everyone defends, everyone attacks" and "Take control of the game." The players also entered the match with the mindset of "never losing in one-on-one situations."

The first half showed a back-and-forth battle. Yokohama F.Marinos maintained possession and tried to break down Tokyo with passing play. However, Tokyo’s players individually defended tenaciously in one-on-one situations, not allowing easy plays. At 4 minutes, MF Ryo SATO received a long ball from GK Matsushima and dribbled into the opponent’s territory but was blocked by the opposing DF. At 5 minutes, FW Yoshimura took a shot but it was saved by the opposing GK. At 12 minutes, an opposing player switched the ball from Tokyo’s left side to the right side, and the receiving opponent made a deep run down the right side and took a shot, but DF Ikiji firmly blocked the shooting lane, and the ball went wide of the goal.

Tokyo builds their attacks from tenacious defense using long balls. MF Sato, MF Yoshimura, and FW Minami repeatedly make runs behind the opponent’s DF, creating good opportunities. At the 18th minute, MF Yoshimura broke free on a long ball from DF Okazaki and faced the opposing GK one-on-one, but it was ruled offside. Then at the 19th minute, MF Hanya received a long ball from DF Yanagi up front, dribbled forward, and was brought down, but no whistle was blown. Tokyo shakes the opponent not only with long balls but also with their specialty passing game. At the 35th minute, Ikuchi broke through the left side and sent a cross, but it was cut off by the opposing DF, resulting in a corner kick. Sato connected to the center from this corner, but the opposing DF cleared it.

and were caught on the counterattack. Although it was a quick counter, the Tokyo DF line calmly responded and did not allow the opponent to score.

In the first half, Tokyo earned several set pieces but none led to goals. There were also multiple occasions when they faced counterattacks from set pieces. However, they clung tightly to the opposing players and did not concede any goals. It seemed the first half would end 0-0, but in added time, a momentary lapse from a mistake in their own half was exploited, resulting in a goal conceded. 0-1.

At halftime, the players reviewed the points for improvement they noticed in the first half. Coach Migita encouraged them, saying, "There are still 45 minutes left, so never give up and let's win," and "Let's manage risks carefully to avoid conceding counters after set pieces."

In the second half, the game quickly shifts. In the 46th minute, Minami breaks behind the opposing defenders and faces the goalkeeper one-on-one. He calmly slots it in to equalize!! With the score tied, Tokyo gradually takes control and spends much of the second half playing in the opponent's territory. In the 49th minute, Ito intercepts the ball high up the pitch and passes to Sato. Sato takes a mid-range shot, but it goes straight to the goalkeeper. In the 67th minute, Nishimoto is brought on to replace the tiring Yoshimura. Immediately after, in the 69th minute, Minami receives the ball out wide on the left side, dribbles in cutting inside, and strikes with his left foot from a tight angle. The shot pierces the net, putting Tokyo ahead!! Rain begins to fall after this goal.

With the lead secured, Tokyo did not ease up on their attack. In the 77th minute, Nishimoto, who came on as a substitute, made an impact. From a free kick gained in the opponent's half, Sato delivered a low, quick pass to Nishimoto. Although the opposing defenders closed in on the ball, Nishimoto skillfully used his body to get free. Once free on goal, Nishimoto took a shot aiming for the corner and scored an additional goal!!

At the 85th minute, with 5 minutes remaining, the rain that started in the second half intensified, and thunder was heard in the distance... The match was temporarily suspended. After about a 40-minute interruption, the match ended at the 35th minute of the second half as it was. Since the match time had exceeded 75 minutes, Tokyo won with a score of 3-1! Tomorrow, they will face Urawa Reds Youth in a match to determine the number one team in the Kanto region.

Thank you very much for your warm support for the players today as well. We kindly ask for your continued warm support for FC Tokyo U-18.