match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserves]
GK:16 Kazuki Takase
DF:19 Ryuji Fukino
MF:15 Kan Kobayashi
FW:32 Ryoichi Imamura

○Match Report
【Challenge for the Future!】
Only two matches remain in the 2016 Prince Takamado U-18 Soccer League Premier League EAST.
Following the results of the previous match, FC Tokyo U-18, now in first place, traveled to the away game at Kashima Soccer Stadium.
The opponent, Kashima Antlers Youth, defeated the top-ranked Aomori Yamada High School in the previous match.
Furthermore, the day before, the top team won the Meiji Yasuda J League Championship Final, securing the overall championship. The club approaches with great momentum.
"Let us be grateful to play in a wonderful stadium, against a great opponent, and in an excellent situation. And rather than fighting the opponent, let us fight ourselves and surpass ourselves."
Motivated by Coach Sato's rallying cry, the players rushed onto the pitch.

【First Half】
The team that started better in the match was the momentum-driven Kashima.
Within the first 30 seconds, a free kick was conceded, and the shot with added variation went straight to Go HATANO.
With sharp reactions and intense pressure, Kashima gained the upper hand in close ball battles, and Tokyo fell behind even in the second ball contests.
At the 9th minute, the ball was switched widely from the left side to the right side, and a scoring chance was created from a headed flick-on, but Go HATANO bravely blocked it with a great save.
At the 19th minute, Kashima sent a cross from the left side, and the header shot hit the post directly.
Tokyo, continuing to respond tenaciously, gradually gets used to the opponent's pressure and begins to maintain possession of the ball.
Tokyo's first shot came in the 26th minute; after delivering the ball from the right side to Matsuoka in the center, it was laid off to Suzuki, whose direct middle-range shot was caught by the GK.
However, unable to create clear scoring chances, Kashima pressed close to Tokyo's goal.
Shots were allowed from directly in front of the goal at the 29th and 39th minutes, but Go HATANO made sharp reactions for excellent saves.
Even against the opponent's long balls, Hasukawa and Okazaki did not easily concede aerial control, and the first half ended 0-0.

【Halftime】
Coach Sato
“We are gradually getting used to the opponent's pressure and the game is becoming ours. Let's keep trying without fear. Let's run through the full 45 minutes.”

【Second Half】
The second half began without any substitutions from either team, and Tokyo took control.
They moved the ball to both the left and right sides, advancing toward Kashima's goal.
At the 46th minute from a left corner kick, and at the 47th minute from a rebound off a right corner kick, Sakaguchi took shots but failed to connect properly.
Tokyo, attacking from the right side, entered the penalty area at the 49th minute through a throw-in deep in the opponent's half, with Matsuoka and Hanya exchanging passes.
They connected a backward pass to Suzuki, who dodged opponents in the scramble and passed back to Matsuoka. Matsuoka briefly shook off a defender and took a shot but failed to score.
At 51 minutes, Matsuoka took a shot from the right side.
At 59 minutes, Matsuoka received a throw-in and skillfully lifted the ball to break through three opposing DF players closing in.
The cross from near the goal line to the near post just missed.
Then at 30 minutes, Sakaguchi received the ball on the left side and delivered a sharp grounded cross to the near post, which the opposing DF touched first.
The ball was absorbed directly into the goal, giving the lead.
While maintaining control of the match, the defense stayed focused as Kashima launched sharp counterattacks threatening the goal, and time continued to pass.
Tokyo brought on Ito, Hasegawa, and Kobayashi to close out the match, but in the 90th minute near the end.
After a long throw-in from the left side was controlled in the center, a shot was allowed from a difficult position, resulting in a tie.
The match ended as it was, with a 1-1 draw.
Following the results at other venues, Tokyo took second place and will face the top-ranked Aomori Yamada High School at home at 'Kodaira Ground' in the next round.

Thank you very much for your warm support to the players today.
Continuing, we kindly ask for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-18.

※Photos other than the ones shown below are also posted on the official mobile site.
For more information, please click here http://fctokyo.sportsinfo.jp