The American expedition has reached its 8th day without any major injuries or issues for the players.
Although the expedition is approaching the second half, thanks to delicious meals and kind people from Texas, we are able to spend it without stress.
The schedule advanced to the final tournament "2016 Generation adidas Cup Premier Division" where the match against REAL SALT LAKE took place.
The wind continued to blow throughout the tournament without stopping, and the match started with a kickoff in the cold weather that chilled to the bone in Tokyo.
Starting Lineup for Today |
Tokyo continues to dominate the game with aggressive defense from a high position since the beginning.
10 minutes, when the pressure from the front line caused Hara to intercept the pass, he dribbled past the defenders and took a left-footed shot. Hara's goal gave us a good start by taking the lead.
After that, Tokyo did not allow any shots despite inviting several dangerous situations.
31 minutes, from a pass exchange between Shinaida and Arakawa to Imamura on the front line. Imamura, who found himself in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, accurately assessed the opponent's position and scored with a looping shot, making it 2-0.
Haru who scored the opening goal | Shinohara, who has played in every match |
In the second half, both teams will have opportunities and the game will become closely contested.
58 minutes, despite clearing REAL SALT LAKE's corner kick once, they were pushed back by the opponent's scramble in front of the goal, resulting in a score of 2-1.
After that, the game became a bit more defensive and there were dangerous moments with consecutive decisive shots.
They managed to escape the pinch in front of the goal even in additional time and achieved victory with a score of 2-1.
After the match, we receive treats from Japanese residents living in the area, which replenish both our mind and body with energy.
After the afternoon training, I watched the U-17 match between Villarreal and River Plate at FC Dallas Stadium.
Players are spending time continuously experiencing the world of football.
Receive energy supply from the treats | Post-match group photo |
Be inspired by watching games of the same generation |
Tomorrow, we have a practice match scheduled against PUMAS from Mexico, whom we played against in the group stage. This will contribute to the improvement of the team and individual players.
The next match will be the 5th place playoff, against Sporting Kansas City, on the 26th at 12:00. (Kickoff at 26:00 Japan time)
※This will be the final match in America.