NEWS

Yamanashi Gakuin clinched the National High School Championship for the first time after beating Aomori Yamada 1-0 in the final in Tokyo on Monday.

Captain Teppei Usui struck the winning goal in the 12th minute, making it a winning debut for the team from Yamanashi Prefecture. It was the first time in 23 years that a debutant team had won the annual tournament.
Daiki Yamamoto of Luther Gakuin in Kumamoto Prefecture was the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.
Playing before a full house at the National Stadium, Yamanashi Gakuin attacked hard to take the initiative against Aomori.
With only 12 minutes gone, Usui, who had scored three times in the previous rounds, controlled a ball on the left side of the box and fired in a shot to give his side an early lead.
Aomori Yamada, taking part in the tournament for 13th year in a row and 15th time overall, rallied hard and had scoring attempts from Japan Under-17 player Gaku Shibasaki, forward Ryota Noma and midfielder Shinji Shiina.
But the Yamanashi players were able to hold on to the final whistle.
“Our players did very well,” Yamanashi coach Takumi Yokomori commented. “I didn’t expect to be tossed in the air here.”
“We tried to attack hard from the start as we thought the first half would be decisive. I thought we would be put under pressure more in the second half, but our players hung on well.”
Aomoiri Yamda coach Go Kuroda commented: “Our players were stiff early in the game and gave up a goal before they’d found their rhythm. I told our players they should be proud of being runners-up. We have many things to learn from the game.”
Yananashi Gakuin defeated Yasu of Shiga Prefecture 4-2 in the first round, Ritsumeikan Uji of Kyoto Prefecture 1-0 in the second round, Kagawa Nishi of Kagawa Prefecture 2-0 in the Round of 16, Luther Gakuin 1-0 in the quarterfinals and Yaita Chuo of Tochigi Prefecture 2-0 in the semifinals.
Aomori Yamada had a bye in the first round, before overcoming Kobe Municipal High School of Science and Technology of Hyogo Prefecture 2-0 in the second round, Kochi of Kochi Prefecture 2-1 in the Round of 16 and Kamimura Gakuen of Kagoshima Prefecture 4-2 in the quarterfinals. They defeated Kansai University 1st High School 3-2 on penalties after battling to a 2-2 draw in the semifinals.