From 9 AM, we thoroughly stretched and did flexibility exercises under trainer Inaba's guidance, preparing for the final match in the afternoon. Given the consecutive matches, we were quite fatigued.
We held a meeting from 9:30 AM, discussing reflections and challenges from yesterday. We specifically raised issues regarding defense and exchanged opinions on points that needed improvement.
We had lunch at 11 AM and departed the hotel at 12:30 PM for the match venue.
Kick-off at 3:00 PM vs. Chonburi FC U-19 (First Team Training Ground)
Current conditions at 3 PM: Temperature: 32℃, Humidity: 44%
We mistakenly went to Chonburi Stadium, so the start time was delayed by 45 minutes, with kick-off rescheduled for 3:45 PM. This match venue is a facility owned by the local government of a Thai province, and the equivalent of the provincial governor is the owner of Chonburi. Vitaya, who has played in Japan and has experience as a coach, serves as a technical advisor and is currently focusing on the academy. The academy uses a different facility, boasting three natural grass pitches and accommodation facilities.
Starting Members
GK: Daisuke Magata, FP: Sora Okita, Tatsuya Kiuchi, Soshi Kofuda, Shotaro Taniguchi, Yu Funahashi, Ena Kazuma, Kai Ishizu, Hikaru Iizuka, Kaiyo Yanagimachi, Noto Watanabe
Second Half Substitutions
Magata → Aoi Terakado, Kazuma → Ayumu Funasaki, Ishizu → Rintaro Umetsu
First Half 0-0
Second Half 1-0
Total 1-0
Scorer: Umetsu
The opposing team included two players who played for the top team, with the rest being 18 and 17-year-old youth players.
Although the opponent dominated possession for much of the early going, we gradually created chances from counterattacks. We broke through their high line and also created chances from counterattacks after winning the ball in midfield.
The opponent's attacks involved one-two passes and breakthroughs from third-man runs. They managed to get shots several times, but we defended tenaciously, led by our goalkeeper, and finished the match without conceding a goal. This was our first clean sheet of the expedition.
We left the ground at 6:10 PM and arrived back at the hotel at 7:30 PM.
After dinner, lights out was at 9:30 PM, concluding the activities of day 4.
We ended the final match with a victory, completing the Thailand expedition with a perfect record of three wins. Tomorrow, we depart the hotel at 5 AM to return to Japan.