(7.29 J Academy Match U-15 J Selection 1-0 Liverpool U15 Ajifi Nishi)
The first game of the J-League International Series 2025 Academy Match was held on the 29th, and the U-15 J-League selection defeated Liverpool U15 1-0. In the match, which attracted over 3,000 spectators, forward Ota Rinsora (Tosu U-15) scored the final goal. The final game, the second game, will be held on the 31st.
The U-15 J-League selection, led by manager Kawai Kenta, is a 4-2-3-1 formation. With goalkeeper Niimura Kazufumi (Omiya U15) behind the back, the final line was lined up from the right with defenders Yamazoe Koa (Iwaki U-15), defenders Nishii Genato (Kyoto U-15), defenders Takeuchi Yuzo (Nagoya U-15), and defenders Takahashi Shinhei (Matsumoto U-15). Midfielder Ozawa Haruta (Sendai Jr. Youth) and midfielder Zeiner Daiyo (Tokyo V Jr. Youth) are two midfielders, with midfielder Kakinuma Reinon (Kashima Tsukuba Jr. Youth) on the right and midfielder Hiroyama Taku (Numazu U15) on the left. The front line was led by forward Abe Keigo (Machida Jr. Youth) at the top, and forward Ota Rinsora (Tosu U-15) came in one row below.
In the 4th minute of the first half of the U-15 J-League selection, Hiroyama crossed vertically on the left side. Abe, who had taken the lead in the center of the penalty area, moved from the keep to the right and took it to Kakinuma's shot, but was blocked by the opponent. Liverpool then launched a quick attack, and after forward Zaku Coxon escaped, the final opportunity was that forward Isaac Conde was 1-1 with goalkeeper Niimura. However, the shot he took after Zayner pushed him off to the left of the target.
In the 14th minute of the first half, Ozawa held back in the middle, and then Kakinuma dodged the opponent with a sharp turn and crossed. However, he was blocked in front of him and did not score a shot. In the 17th minute, Abe successfully put his body in and turned around after Ota's pass. He shot straight away, but was prevented by the good defense of goalkeeper Harry Lee Fris.
On the other hand, Liverpool U15 continued to show powerful fast attacks and created a scene in the 19th minute of the first half where they made a pass. Defender Liam Ballmer took the center Conde from the left side and received a one-two return, and then passed through to Conde again. Conde took the left side of the penalty area and shot to the far side, but this was GK Shinmura's defensive range.
Then, in the 21st minute of the first half, the U-15 J-League selection moved the game. Hiroyama snatched the ball deep into the left side and entered the penalty area. Ota ran into the ball that crossed from the left, and shook the goal net with his right foot directly. He scored the first goal just before drinking water.
However, the U-15 J.League selection was in a major crisis in the 26th minute of the first half. Takeuchi touched Conde's grounder's cross, but Coxon headed the ball that jumped up. The ball flew straight to the top of the goal, but goalkeeper Shinmura touched the ball with the fingertips of both hands making a super save. He kept the lead with big plays. After that, Ozawa shook the net, but the goal was offside and the game didn't add any extra points, and the first half ended 1-0.
From the end of halftime, forward Mihara Daitora (Kitakyushu U-15) will take over in place of Abe. At the start of the second half, Coxon took the back of the final line, but goalkeeper Shinmura, who was close to the distance, stood there as well. Furthermore, in the 10th minute of the second half, Conde fired a shot from within the penalty area to aim for the top corner of the goal, but Niimura managed to get through with a good save.
In the 15th minute of the second half, Coach Kawai introduced all the field players starting on the bench, except midfielder Inada Ryohisa (Kashiwa U-15), who had left the training the day before. Defender Odajima Yuki (Akita U-15), defender Yamada Juo (Kanazawa U-15), midfielder Ito Ko (FC Tokyo U-15 Musashi), midfielder Suehiro Daito (Shonan U-15), midfielder Hatsune Kojiro (Kawasaki F U-15 Todoroki), and forward Kataoka Yuuki (Kochi Jr. Youth) joined, and the starting lineup was Zayner, Takeuchi, Nishii and goalkeeper Niimura.
In the U-15 J.League selection, Ito dribbled and fired a mid-range shot, showing his attitude of aiming for additional points. Perhaps due to the humid heat that is typical of Japan, Liverpool U15 players sat on the pitch in the second half.
In the 36th minute of the second half, Mihara escaped from Takeuchi's vertical pass and shot. Suehiro and Ito also got a chance immediately afterwards, but the second goal was not born. Yamazoe re-enters in the second half's additional time in place of Nishii. The U-15 J.League selection managed to keep their lead and win.
(Interview and text by Kato Naoki)
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