[Reserve]
GK:16 Yuji TAKAHASHI
DF:29 Masahiro FURUYA
MF:7 Seiichi KANE, 14 Kosei NUMATA
FW:9 Seiichiro KUBO


Thank you for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-18 today.
As a result, FC Tokyo U-18 has been promoted to the Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Soccer Premier League 2020.

Continued, thank you for your warm support.

[Next Match]
Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League EAST 2020

[Match Report]
"A thunderous roar of joy echoed in Hiroshima. They achieved a triumphant victory and secured promotion to the Premier League within a year."

On Dec 15 (Sun), the 2nd Round of the Emperor's Cup JFA U-18 Soccer Premier League 2019 playoffs was held in various locations in Hiroshima Prefecture, and the four winning teams secured promotion to the Premier League next season.

In the 1st Round, FC Tokyo U-18, who defeated Asahikawa Business High School, faced Montedio Yamagata Youth, who defeated Oita Trinita U-18 after extra time. It was a closely contested match, but it ended with a 1-0 shutout. With this result, FC Tokyo U-18 joins the 4 teams entering the Premier League next season and secures a return to Premier EAST.

This season, which was demoted to the Prince League Kanto, we followed in the footsteps of Yokohama F.Marinos Youth, but ultimately won the championship and advanced to this Premier Entry Match.
The young blue and red army achieved their goal of returning to the Premier League in just one year and will return to Tokyo with pride.

The kickoff for the 2nd Round will be at 11:00 on the 15th.
The Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Hiroshima Stadium, which became the battlefield, was bathed in warm sunlight that was unexpected for December.
The starting lineup of FC Tokyo U-18 has only changed the left wing back from Kim Seong-min to Osako Souto, and other than that, it remains the same as the 1st round. Despite having only one day of rest, they will face Montedio Yamagata Youth, the powerhouse of Tohoku, with a 3-4-2-1 formation, utilizing the momentum and experience from the first match.

Tadashi NAKAMURA, FC Tokyo U-18 coach, explained about the preparation for the next day, saying, "We knew that Yamagata is strong not only in the flow of attacks but also in set plays and long throws, so we have to be cautious even against counterattacks. In addition to the defensive organization, the goalkeeper is also of a very high level, and shots from set plays that were scored in the first match were caught by the Yamagata opponent. I made the players aware that they are a completely different team from the opponent in the first round."

The match indeed unfolded in such a way.
FC Tokyo U-18 can penetrate to a certain extent into the high position on the side, but they are not allowed to enter the box. They were unable to break through the tenacious defense of Montedio Yamagata Youth and the first half ended with no goals. Even the best chance in the 45th minute of the first half, a wonderful cross from Shingo Morita that couldn't have been any better, was struck by Kazumi Miyata with a fantastic header, but it was narrowly saved by the opposing goalkeeper, Rui Ito.

However, it was expected to be a 0-0 draw at halftime as Yamagata's pace was drawn in. Coach Nakamura told the players at halftime, "We have to go all the way, even with our bodies, until we break the goal, because we don't know what will happen with a loose ball - we will probably be able to score a goal." This encouraged the players to rally.

As the intense and closely contested game continues, Coach Nakamura makes a bold move by sending in the fresh Kashif BANGNAGANDE to the left shadow. As a result, the tight marking on Riku Kobayashi, the right shadow, by Yamagata loosens slightly, making it easier to move the ball. Six minutes after BANGNAGANDE's entry, the impact becomes evident in the outcome.
In the 17th minute of the second half, Kobayashi, who received a return pass from Morita on the right, cut inside alone and invaded the goal area. The feeling of a goal was not betrayed as soon as he started dribbling past two defenders, and he scored with a right-footed shot. It was also a scene where the coach Nakamura's strategy of using him in the forward position throughout the season paid off, as he had believed that his dribbling skills and finishing ability were his strengths.

This one point decided the game. In the final stages, we held onto the ball and spent time, carefully advancing the game so as not to let the opponent take control. Our experience throughout the season, where we have been able to win low-scoring games in the Prince League Kanto, came into play.
And time is up.
Contrary to the explosive joy of the moment of the final goal, after the exhaustion of exerting all their strength, a feeling of happiness gradually wells up. And then a roar. That scene seemed to prove the toughness and value of the playoffs.

Manager Nakamura expressed his joy at returning to the Premier League once again.
"It was a really tough season. I think the players fought well. When the Prince League Kanto started, I was in a state of 'Can we really win with this?' From there, we had to endure and endure and endure in the matches. However, we gradually gained strength and were able to achieve the team's biggest goal of winning only in the league while using the cup matches as various learning experiences. In the latter half of the season, we started scoring gradually and I think the team's strength has grown and improved."

Players who have improved their skills in J3 and the summer festival remained undefeated after the summer break. Their strength in matches also helped them advance to the playoffs. The third-year students will graduate, but the remaining second-year and first-year students have battles awaiting them in the Premier League.

FC Tokyo U-18 is becoming stronger and will become one of the pillars supporting this club.