Academy Report

On June 1st, the 3rd place playoff and final matches of the Frenz International U19 Cup were held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.


The matches were broadcast live on TV again today. The production company, ASTRO, had 40 staff members and used 6 cameras for the broadcast. 3rd Place Playoff vs Frenz United FC 1-2
Goal scorer: Shinozaki
Starting Lineup:
Oki, Arakawa, Nakamura, Masuzaki, Yuki, Onuma, Nishimoto, Watanabe, Sasaki, Takezawa, Shinozaki
Substitutes:
Sudo, Imura, IdetsuKashima Youth, with four first-year students in their starting lineup, took an early lead in the 4th minute with a goal from Shinozaki. The team then settled down and controlled the game. In the 40th minute, Sudo broke free from Nishimoto's through pass, dribbled past an opposing defender, and took a shot, but it didn't go in. In the 43rd minute, however, a through pass from Frenz led to a foul by a defender in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. Frenz converted the penalty, equalizing the score. Immediately after, Shinozaki had a decisive chance from Sasaki's cross, but his header went wide of the goal. The first half ended 1-1.
In the second half, Shinozaki again dispossessed an opposing defender early on, drove towards the goal, and passed to Takezawa. Takezawa was unmarked, but his shot was blocked by a defender who had returned to the goal line, denying Kashima Youth another goal. In the 53rd minute, Frenz scored from a corner kick with a header, taking the lead. After that, Kashima Youth had several chances from set pieces but couldn't convert, ultimately losing 1-2.Coach Kumagai's comments:
"In today's match, we scored early and were able to control the game afterward. However, because we had many inexperienced players, especially in defense, there were many moments where we couldn't hold our ground. There was also an age difference with the opposing players, and they outsmarted us in terms of tactics. We need to correct the small details where mistakes occurred, but the team is growing with each match, and I believe this will definitely be reflected in our future team strength. We played five matches—four tournament matches and one friendly match—and experienced different styles of soccer from various countries. Although we didn't win a single match in the tournament, it was a meaningful tournament where we could feel our growth with each game. It is also necessary to achieve results, so I want to work on reflecting that when we return to Japan. Amidst trying new players and new approaches, we were able to score goals, which had been a challenge in Japan, and I feel a bright prospect. I would like to express my deep gratitude for being able to participate in this wonderful tournament and for the efforts of many people involved in our participation. If such opportunities arise again, we want to actively step out and constantly ascertain our position."


Kashima Youth, who finished in 4th place, received a prize of $8,000 and the Fair Play Award at the awards ceremony after the match.
Kashima Antlers presented a commemorative gift to Mr. Basir, the owner of Frenz.