[Championship] With the thoughts of about 100 members in mind. The weight of the captain's mark felt by Higashiyama and Daiki Uta. "I came with responsibility"

"I'm glad I scored my own goal and won the match"

Higashiyama scored the team's second goal that brought the team closer to victory. Photo: Noriko Hayakusa

[High School Championship 2nd Round] Municipal Nagano 0-2 Higashiyama / December 31 (Friday) / Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka [High School Soccer Championship PHOTO] Mizuki Kayashima, the support manager, appears at the National! A splendid dance is also shown at half time! Higashiyama, who participated in the championship for the first time in three years, advanced to the best 16, the best ever. Higashiyama grabbed the pace from the start and succeeded in scoring the opening goal in the 10th minute of the first half. From the link in the attacking third, Mioya Sakata, who finally received it on the right side of the penalty area, dodged the opponent's defender with a scissors feint and swung his right foot to the opposite side. After the opening goal, Higashiyama stepped up the offensive. With a coordinated pass rotation, they dodged the pressure from Nagano City's front line and attacked, creating many shooting opportunities. If Keita Matsuhashi shows an effective side change, Sakata's aggressive cross will create a good opportunity. With a 1-point lead, in the 4th minute of the second half, Daiki Uta, who jumped into a high-precision cross from the right side of Matsuhashi, made it 2 points behind with a header. At the end of the game, Ichiritsu Nagano, who showed their stubbornness, created a dangerous scene, but the defenders tried their best to block the shot. We won the first match with a complete seal. Uda, who scored the team's second goal, was the game captain in this match. ``I took responsibility for being the captain among the more than 100 members,'' he said, feeling the weight of the captain's mark on behalf of captain Kei Kinoshita, who started from the bench. ran to the end. He also contributed to the team's victory with his own score. ``It was good that we scored the opening goal and scored a goal in the second half to win the match,'' he said with a satisfied expression. Coach Ryoichi Fukushige also praised the players, saying, "I'm grateful for the wonderful fight." The team has taken a step forward towards the team's goal of being the number one in Japan, which Uda strongly declared. Coverage/Text Shuto Tezuka (Soccer Digest Web Editorial Department)