match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserves]
GK:30, Katsuya MATSUSHIMA
DF:12, Satoshi YAMAGUCHI, 33, Makoto OKAZAKI
MF:37, Junya ITO、 FW:19, Rui NISHIMOTO

○ Match Digest
The Prince League, which had been suspended due to the summer national tournament "Club Youth Championship," resumes today (August 24). The opponent is Yamanashi Gakuin University High School, whom they faced in the opening match. During this break, Tokyo advanced to the final of the "Club Youth Championship" for the first time since 2009 and finished as runners-up. Afterwards, they continued to deliver results by winning the "Wakura Youth (U-18) Soccer Tournament" held in Ishikawa Prefecture, where strong teams from across the country gathered. On the other hand, Yamanashi Gakuin University High School also participated in the "Inter-High," the national tournament of the High School Athletic Federation. Although they were eliminated in the 3rd Round by the eventual champions Higashi Fukuoka, they are a team that has produced results, including participating in the Emperor's Cup as representatives of Yamanashi Prefecture.

Before the match, Coach Sato addressed the players, saying, "The second half of the league is finally resuming. We have built up a lot during the summer tournaments, but let's return to basics and play to achieve even greater progress." The players then headed out onto the pitch.

The match kicked off at 11:00 a.m. at the AWAY Yamanashi Gakuin Wado Ground with Yamanashi Gakuin starting with the ball. The first shot of the game came at 2 minutes. The ball was passed from Hasukawa on the left side to Sasaki, then to Yamagishi on the right side who had overlapped. Yamagishi’s precise cross was met by Okuma waiting in the center with a header, but it lacked a bit of power and was stopped by the opposing GK. Yamanashi Gakuin immediately countered with a long-range shot, but GK Ito made the save. At 6 minutes, Tokyo conceded a free kick due to a careless foul, which was directly targeted but went wide of the goal.

The match shifted at the 8th minute. From a corner kick earned through Renkawa's initiative, the opening goal was born. The kicker was Nagasawa. On the ball sent into the area, Onishi met it with a high-headed flick down, and finally Okuma pushed it into the net with his favored left foot to take the lead!! Then, at the 12th minute, Tokyo added another goal from a set piece (free kick). Okuma delivered a perfectly inswinging cross behind the defensive line with his left foot, and the running Onishi headed the ball freely into the net. They extended their lead to 2-0 early in the game.

However, at the 16th minute, Tokyo was caught behind the defense by a long ball, creating a one-on-one situation between the goalkeeper and an opposing player, resulting in a conceded goal. Although Yamanashi Gakuin took advantage of a brief lapse, Tokyo scored their third goal at the 24th minute in a wonderful play where Onishi's precise pass, Hasukawa's trap, and Yamagishi's positioning all came together perfectly. Onishi, holding the ball near the defensive line, delivered a pinpoint long pass to Hasukawa, who had made a run behind the opposing defensive line on the left side. Hasukawa controlled the ball beautifully with a trap, dribbled into the area in front of the goal, and finally passed to Yamagishi, who had surged up from the right side to the center, and Yamagishi pushed the ball into the net, pulling away from the opponent!!

With the lead restored to two goals, Tokyo simply connected passes to increase ball possession. Even when the opponent took the ball, they did not recklessly try to regain it but properly retreated to fill the spaces, denying the opponent any openings for attack. At the 32nd minute, their defense shone as well, forcing the opposing goalkeeper to backpass through coordinated defense, with Okuma applying intense pressure on the goalkeeper, causing a mis-kick and regaining possession.

The ball won in this play was circulated fluidly among four players—Yanagi, Yamagishi, Nagasawa, and Sasaki—who repeatedly formed triangles on the right side, evading the opponent's pressure and breaking down the right flank. In the end, Okuma received a through pass and took a shot, but it was cut off by the defenders, resulting in a corner kick.

Tokyo's fourth goal came from this corner kick. On the cross sent to the center, Onishi headed it back from the far side, and Yanagi followed up to score!! They scored 4 goals in the first half alone, extending their lead to 4-1. However, immediately after, in the 38th minute, a mistake in the defensive line gave the opponent a decisive chance, but goalkeeper Ito made a great save and Yanagi's covering defense repelled the opponent's attack. The first half ended 4-1, heading into halftime.

Halftime. The players discussed the characteristics of the opposing players among themselves and reviewed the points to be corrected from the first half. Additionally, Coach Sato encouraged them by saying, 'The dangers come from our own mistakes, so let's play with proper risk management.'

In the second half, Tokyo continued to dominate the game, but a single play triggered a shift in momentum to Yamanashi Gakuin, who launched a fierce attack... At the 50th minute, Yanagi received the ball from Takada and passed it to Sasaki in midfield. Sasaki took a one-touch pass and connected to Nagasawa, then switched play to Yamagishi on the right side. Yamagishi received the ball deep in the opponent's territory, cut inside, and sent a cross to the center, but it was blocked by the opposing defenders. Meanwhile, Yamanashi Gakuin capitalized on Tokyo’s easy mistakes to quickly attack vertically. At the 8th minute, after losing the ball in midfield, Tokyo was nearly broken down by a central pass from the opponent, but Koyama on the left side closed in centrally and used his body to contain the opposing FW, averting danger.

At the 56th and 60th minutes, Tokyo brought Ryu Watanabe on for Sasaki and Tamiya on for Koyama. Except for their own mistakes, Tokyo had been controlling the game in the second half up to this point, but at the 63rd minute, they easily lost the ball on the right side, were quickly attacked, and conceded a goal. This play triggered a momentum shift to Yamanashi Gakuin. Narrowing the gap to two goals, Yamanashi Gakuin revived and continued pressing from the front without stopping.

In the 79th minute, Tokyo conceded their third goal from a set piece. They initially cleared the free kick given on their own left side, but the opponent picked up the loose ball. Before the defensive formation could be organized, the ball was thrown into the penalty area, resulting in a goal. The deficit was reduced to one goal.

However, Tokyo pushed forward again to extend their lead. In the 80th minute, Nagasawa sent a free kick he earned himself to Hasukawa, who had started moving up front. Positioned behind the defensive line, Hasukawa controlled the ball with his chest and smoothly took a shot, but could not shake the net. Tokyo brought on Minami in the 85th minute and Ryo SATO in the 89th minute, refreshing the forward players.

As the remaining time decreased, Yamanashi Gakuin repeatedly launched the ball in front of Tokyo's goal, creating dangerous situations, but GK Ito made a series of fine saves to prevent an equalizer. The match ended with the score unchanged.

Tokyo established a 3-goal lead in the first half, but Yamanashi Gakuin's comeback narrowed the score to 4-3. Although they won, the players showed expressions that were not entirely joyful. It was a match that reminded them once again that there are no easy games in a league where strong teams line up. However, Tokyo secured 3 points away and maintained their top position.

Thank you very much for coming all the way to the distant AWAY and supporting us today. We appreciate your continued support for FC Tokyo U-18.