After breakfast at 8 AM, we departed from our lodging for the tournament venue at 9 AM.
Although we traveled by bus, we got caught in traffic, and the journey took an hour, double the usual time.
A grand opening ceremony began at 11:25 AM. The Antlers team was called out, and we received a warm welcome from the tournament organizers.
However, the schedule changed significantly, and we experienced the challenges of an away game.
With almost no time for warm-up, the first match kicked off.
Our first preliminary match was against Rubin Kazan from Russia, a strong team whose top squad plays in the domestic first division.
Starting Lineup
GK: Kato
DF: Shoji, Asahina, Kagaya
MF: Akasaka, Tonooka, Miura
FW: Yokota
Substitutions at 15 mins: Shoji→Yoshimatsu, Akasaka→Okin, Miura→Nakagawa
Substitution at 22 mins: Yokota→Kagaya
Due to the warm-up situation, we didn't start the match well, but as time passed, we settled down.
The opposing team pressed from the front, giving Antlers no freedom.
Our players struggled against the opponent's press but desperately tried to create chances, resulting in a back-and-forth match.
We tried to change the flow with player substitutions, but the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Our second preliminary match was against the youth team of FK Rostov, another Russian first division club.
Starting Lineup
GK: Kato
DF: Yoshimatsu, Asahina, Yatsu
MF: Akasaka, Kagaya, Miura
FW: Nakagawa
Substitution at 10 mins: Miura→Okin
Substitution at 12 mins: Kagaya→Tonooka
Substitutions at 15 mins: Yoshimatsu→Shoji, Nakagawa→Yokota
Goal at 6 mins: Nakagawa
Due to the schedule, lunch timing was poor, and playing the second match might have affected our movement. However, the players started the match wonderfully.
We controlled the game firmly, looking for gaps in the opponent's defense to launch attacks.
The opposing team also attacked quickly with presses from the front and intense defense around the ball, but our defenders handled it calmly.
Then, in the 6th minute of the first half, Nakagawa intercepted a pass from the opponent's goalkeeper and calmly scored, ending the first half 1-0.
In the second half, the opponent's defense became even more aggressive in their attempt to equalize, but everyone maintained their concentration, and we managed to secure a 1-0 victory.
Back at the lodging, we cooled down and recovered in the pool. During the post-dinner meeting, we focused on increasing our awareness for tomorrow's matches.
Tomorrow, we will play our third preliminary match against Baltika Kaliningrad and our fourth preliminary match against CSKA.