Match Report
The table gap was wide: 22 points between Slovakia U18 (1st, 23 pts) and Japan U18 (3rd, 1 pts). Recent form told a different story for Japan U18: only 27th in the league over the last five rounds despite sitting 3rd. Against a league average of 1.44 goals per team per game, Japan U18 ran at 1 scored and 1 conceded, Slovakia U18 at 2.2 and 1.
Momentum sat with Slovakia U18, winners of their last three.
Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 0-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 1-1.


