NEWS

Vissel Kobe won the Prince Takamado All-Japan Under-15 Championship for the first time after beating Consadole Sapporo 2-1 in the final at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Substitute midfielder Tomoki Konishi hit the winning goal in the 70th minute.

It was a double triumph for Kobe after also winning the All-Japan Club Youth Under-15 Championship earlier this season.

Kobe enjoyed the greater possession as they pressured Sapporo, hitting the woodwork twice.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, Kobe broke the deadlock through Takeru Matsuda.

But Sapporo rallied hard and leveled the scores in the 65th minute, when Yumemi Kanda fired home a Miki Gamo pass from close range. Kanda improved his scoring tally to a tournament-leading eight.

But with 10 minutes left, Kobe forward Hikaru Tsurusaki attacked on the right and crossed for Konishi to slot home the winner from 12 meters out.

Kobe reached the final after beating Vegalta Sendai Junior youth team 2-0 in the quarterfinals on December 25 and Kashiwa Reysol Under-15 side 3-1 after extra time in the semifinals on December 27.

Sapporo advanced to the final after beating Sports Club Gifu VAMOS 3-0 in the quarterfinals and Tokyo Verdy Junior Youth 3-1 in the semifinals.