Kyoto Tachibana clinched the title of the 77th Kinki High School Soccer Championship by defeating Osaka Toin 1-0 on February 22 at J-GREEN Sakai. This victory marked their third overall championship win and their first in four tournaments.
The match saw Kyoto Tachibana triumph thanks to a decisive goal from midfielder Raiki Kawamura. The victory came after Kyoto Tachibana also secured their place in the finals by beating Kobe Koryo 2-0, whereas Osaka Toin advanced after defeating Omi 3-1.
During the final match, Osaka Toin began with intent, creating significant early opportunities as forward Sota Sumitomo set up plays. Despite their early threats, they could not capitalize on their chances. Coach Etsujiro Nagano noted, "It was regrettable to hold two matches in one day as we wanted to play fresh."
The game remained tense and competitive, characterized by close calls from both sides. After 30 minutes, Kyoto Tachibana's striker Hiroki Akikubo made strides but was unable to take the shot. This unyielding battle continued until the second half, where the game's pivotal moment arose.
At the 70-minute mark, Akikubo received the ball through swift dribbling, penetrating the opposition's area. His low cross found Kawamura, who successfully converted with his head, marking the only goal of the match.
Kyoto Tachibana's goalkeeper and captain, Makoto Hirakawa, shared his insights after the match: "We struggled at times but kept playing our style of football. The support from our bench was monumental; it felt like having dozens behind us cheering, even with just seven supporting players."
This title was not just significant as it represented their determination returning to the top after years, but it also had historical importance—it marked their first victory since the tournament adopted its current structure. Hirakawa expressed aspirations at the end of the match, stating, "We want to carry this momentum forward to the Inter-High and selection tournaments."
For Osaka Toin, it was close but just out of reach. Nagano’s reflections on the game spotlighted areas for improvement, especially how they handled the fatigue from the back-to-back matches. "We needed to mix things up more. We focused too heavily on one side," he said.
Overall, Kyoto Tachibana's victory reestablishes them as fierce competitors on the high school soccer stage. Their focus now shifts to forthcoming championships, aiming to channel the lessons learned from the Kinki tournament as they pursue glory at the Inter-High and selection tournaments. With the foundation laid, the team hopes not only to maintain their winning streak but to also secure successful runs on broader stages of high school soccer.