Group Stage Match 3
10:00 AM Kick-off vs AD Geracao Genios B (Portugal)
Starting members were GK Kimura, FPs Maeda, Konagaki, Araki, Matsumoto, Ito, Takeda. The goal for this match was to score as many points as possible. The team was stable in both offense and defense, scoring 5 goals in the first half.
The second half members were GK Kimura, FPs Konagaki, Ito, Araki, Takeda, Sasaki, Maeda. With free substitutions allowed throughout both halves, we used all players including Sasaki, Okano, Imai, and Kobayashi, and dominated the opponent from start to finish. We emphasized quick plays during set pieces.
First half 5-0, Second half 5-0, Total 10-0
Goal scorers: Takeda x3, Konagaki, Sasaki, Maeda, Ito, Own Goal, Okano, Imai
Group Stage Match 4
5:00 PM Kick-off vs Central Brooklyn SC (USA)
This was the toughest opponent in the group, and the size difference was clear.
Starting members were GK Kimura, FPs Maeda, Konagaki, Okano, Sasaki, Ito, Takeda. The opponent's basic strategy was to connect passes and attack, considering positional balance. We thoroughly focused on going hard for loose balls, taking correct defensive positions to watch both the player and the ball on long passes, and confusing the opponent's marking with simple diagonal runs that changed movement from outside to inside on offense. Maeda set up a free kick, and Okano scored a powerful goal to take the lead. After that, we played more defensively, but we pressed the opponent on counterattacks, forcing a miscommunication between their defender and goalkeeper, which led to an own goal for an additional score.
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The second half members were GK Kimura, FPs Maeda, Konagaki, Okano, Sasaki, Ito, Kobayashi. For the first 10 minutes of the second half, we played as well as in the first, but a mistake changed the flow, and we started taking the opponent's attacks head-on. We conceded goals from throw-ins and restarts like goal kicks, and in injury time, even with the goalkeeper joining the attack, we were caught out from behind. As a result, we finished the group stage with 2 wins, 2 losses, 6 points, 16 goals scored, 7 goals conceded, and a goal difference of 9. At this point, everyone believed our chances of advancing to the knockout stage were over, and we left the venue in tears of frustration.
First half 2-0, Second half 0-4, Total 2-4
Goal scorers: Okano, Own Goal