Nadeshiko League Third Round

Yanagita scores at the death to rescue a point for Fukuoka

Speranza F.C. Osaka Takatsuki  1 - 1  Fukuoka J. Anclas 
(Attendance: 1,062)

Speranza named an unchanged side from that which lost to Niigata last week and Osaka native Shimamura Yuko gave them the lead in the 34th minute as the result of a goalkeeping howler. Fukuoka 'keeper Sawada rushed out from her area to intercept a long ball from Matsuda Nozomi and Shimamura simply stroked it into the goal having got to the ball first. Shimamura scored 13 in last year's Challenge League West and will be relieved to have got herself and her team their first goal this season; by contrast Sawada will have been mortified by her rash attempt at a clearance - especially as there was no imminent danger. The home side looked like they would hang on until newcomer Yanagita Shiori ghosted in unmarked to head in from her side's only corner kick of the game to equalise for Fukuoka J. Anclas in the fifth minute of additional time. So little time was there left on the clock that the referee blew for full-time without restarting.

Speranza F.C. Osaka Takatsuki:
Suzuki Risa, Toyama Sayuri, Okuda Akiko (capt), Hirano Satoko, Matsuda Nozomi, Asano Miki, Toyoda Nayuha, Itami Emi, Torao Naomi, Hamada Haruka, Shimamura Yuko
Subs: Maruyama Karina (Toyama Sayuri, 56 mins), Yoshizawa Ai (Asano Miki, 71 mins), Tanaka Ayako (Shimamura Yuko, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Takahashi Chizuru
Scorer: Shimamura Yuko (34 mins)
Booked: Hamada Haruka, Suzuki Risa

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Sawada Norimi, Uchihori Ritsuko (capt), Yanagita Shiori, Isokane Midori, Hanada Aiko, Tanihara Yukari, Kuzuma Riyo, Kawamura Mari, Tagashira Yoko, Shibuya Yumiko, Sato Kaede
Subs: Kiyohara Marie (Tagashira Yoko, 40 mins), Akiyama Ryo (Tanihara Yukari, 63 mins), Doshita Misato (Kuzuma Riyo, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Yatagai Mikiko, Kushige Aoi
Scorer: Yanagita Shiori (90+5 mins)
Booked: Akiyama Ryo


Urawa Red Diamonds  1 - 1  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 2,474)

Having just played three games, Urawa Red Diamonds will already be feeling their challenge for the title faltering after another draw against inferior opposition. Urawa made one change, JFA Academy recruit Wada Naoko starting in place of Takeyama Yuko. The Kunoichi strengthened their defence with Nasu Maiko making her first start since joining from INAC Kobe. In midfield another transferred player from INAC, Haji Madoka had her first start of the season. In the 28th minute the lively Tsutsumi Saki gave Iga the lead with a superb shot across the goal from just outside the area, with Haji the instigator with a strong run from midfield which drew the Urawa players towards her to free Tsutsumi. Urawa responded in kind ten minutes later with a goal from Chinatsu Kira, her third of the season. Chinatsu had received a beautiful ball over the top from Shibata, in taking the shot she was challenged and only just got her shot away, the ball trickling apologetically over the line with Ono wrong-footed and unable to scramble back in time. Both sides had chances in the second half but neither could break down some resolute defending.

Urawa Red Diamonds:
Yamago Nozomi, Tsuchihashi Yuki, Kohata Shiho, Yano Kyoko (capt), Wada Naoko, Shibata Hanae, Naomoto Hikaru, Niwata Akiko, Yasuda Yuki, Kira Chinatsu, Arakawa Eriko
Subs: Kato Chika (Yasuda Yuki, 65 mins), Yanagita Miyuki (Niwata Akiko, 70 mins), Goto Michi (Arakawa Eriko, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Ikeda Sakiko, Dozono Ayano
Scorer: Kira Chinatsu (38 mins)
Booked: Naomoto Hikaru

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Ono Maya, Fujimoto Ayano, Miyasako Tamami, Ono Suzuka (capt), Yamaguchi Ayako, Kobayashi Makiko, Nasu Maiko, Miyamoto Tomomi, Tsutsumi Saki, Haji Madoka, Matsunaga Yoshie
Subs: Noichi Aya (Matsunaga Yoshie, 72 mins), Nakade Hikari (Haji Madoka, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Kuno Fubuki, Michikura Hiroko, Matsunaga Tomoe
Scorer: Tsutsumi Saki (28 mins)
Booked: Miyamoto Tomomi


Okayama Yunogo Belle  3 - 0  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 3,515)

With Oishi Sayaka out injured for six months, Niigata started with Hirai Sakina up front against Belle. Although both sides had an equal number of chances on goal, it was Belle who showed how to finish with three exquisite goals. Belle's top scorer Arimachi bullied Saito off the ball in midfield and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner from well outside the area. On the half-hour mark a cross from Mizushima was beautifully controlled by Matsuoka on her chest before flicking it up with her right foot and volleying with her left in past Otomo who simply could not get anywhere near the ball. Belle killed the game off in the 73rd minute when a Miyama corner was headed goalwards by Matsuoka and Nakano Manami held off Wakabayashi Minori to swivel and lash the ball home.

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Yasuda Kuniko, Kado Yuka, Tsuhako Yumiko, Sakai Nozomi, Takahashi Haruka, Nakano Manami, Miyama Aya, Mizushima Kumi, Arimachi Saori, Matsuoka Miki
Subs: Yokoyama Kumi (Mizushima Kumi, 72 mins)
Unused subs: Shigemoto Shiho, Nakamura Miki, Nagamachi Yuri, Ikegaya Natsumi
Scorers: Arimachi Saori (24 mins), Matsuoka Miki (30 mins), Nakano Manami (67 mins)

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Otomo Maiko (capt), Wakabayashi Minori, Kitahara Kana, Higashiyama Maiko, Nakamura Kaede, Nakamura Saki, Saito Yuri, Nakaoka Maiko, Saeki Aya, Hirai Sakina, Yamazaki Marumi
Subs: Kodama Keiko (Nakaoka Maiko, 68 mins), Hori Yoshie (Nakamura Saki, 70 mins)
Unused subs: Suwa Erina, Kawamura Yuri, Kamionobe Megumi, Hori Yoshie, Kodama Keiko


INAC Kobe Leonessa  3 - 2  AS Elfen Sayama FC
(Attendance: 4,441)

Having conceded the first goal in the fourth minute to a fine drive by Takara Ryoko - from a cute backheel from Kyokawa - Elfen Sayama must have felt that they were destined to be the latest team torn asunder by INAC Kobe's lionesses. However, the Sayama team composed themselves, organised their defence and started to play with a little confidence. Their star player was their ever-present keeper, Arima Shizuka, who kept INAC at bay through a mixture of acrobatics, agility and bravery. INAC finally got their second of the day through Kyokawa, her fourth of the season, from a first-time pass from Kawasumi.

2-0 down at half-time, Sayama knew they were still in the game and in the second half decided to have a go. Some untidiness in defence cost them in the 53rd minute, though they were unlucky as Takara scored her second of the afternoon, as her shot from outside the area took a huge deflection off a Sayama defender, completely wrong-footing Arima.

On 61 minutes, Sawa Homare - starting her first game of the season - was replaced by Minamiyama Chiaki, who had played in her stead in the first two games of the season.

Still Sayama pressed on, and were rewarded with a goal in the 69th minute through Suzuki Kaoruko, who headed in when the ball had bounced back off the cross-bar from a shot by substitute Uchida Saki. Kaihori in the INAC net had looked uncertain early in the game, and was again somewhat hesitant about attacking the ball. Five minutes later, Sayama had another, Azami both relieved and delighted to have made up for her part in the third INAC goal - the Sayama forwards having dominated the INAC defenders in the air.

INAC continued to press and made some good chances in the last fifteen minutes but time and again were off-target. Sayama, for their part, looked to counter attack whenever INAC had pushed women forward and throughout the game showed some slick passing with their midfield linking the play well between defence and attack.

Just on 90 minutes, Takara headed goalwards with the keeper stranded, but two Sayama defenders on the line had positioned themselves well and one headed the ball against the underside of the bar and the ball was cleared in a panic.

The game petered out in additional time. With a few seconds left INAC will be pleased with the points but know that they will have to be better against stronger opposition; Sayama will be pleased with the spirit, character and no small amount of skill that they showed.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Takara Ryoko, Tanaka Asuna, Sawa Homare, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Ji So-Yun, Takase Megumi, Kawasumi Nahomi, Kyokawa Mai
Subs: Minamiyama Chiaki (Sawa Homare, 61 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Tanaka Yoko, Nakajima Emi, Nakada Ayu
Scorers: Takara Ryoko (4, 53 mins), Kyokawa Mai (37 mins)
Booked: Ji So-Yun

AS Elfen Sayama FC:
Arima Shizuka, Segi Aki, Shibata Satomi, Takahashi Yuko, Kumagai Sayaka, Kobayashi Natsumi, Azami Rie, Suzuki Kaoruko, Saito Yuri, Watanabe Ayaka, Muraoka Natsuki (capt)
Subs: Uchida Saki (Saito Yuri, 60 mins), Sugiyama Takako (Suzuki Kaoruko, 72 mins), Otani Erina (Muraoka Natsuki, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Otani Haruka, Otani Erina
Scorers: Suzuki Kaoruko (69 mins), Azami Rie (74 mins)
Booked: Suzuki Kaoruko, Uchida Saki


NTV Beleza  4 - 0  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 7,082)

Nagasato Ayano became the league's sole top scorer with five goals as she scored two of Beleza's four against a JEF United side unable to cope with Beleza's strength up front, in a game played in Morioka, Iwate. In the opening minutes Beleza attacked relentlessly down the left flank and following a corner it appeared that Doko Mayo had scored her first for the senior side in just the third minute, but the goal was later ruled an own goal. Kobayashi's cross from the right resulted in a goalmouth scramble and the ball eventually nestled in the net following some pinball in the area.

Kobayashi Yayoi fell awkwardly having challenged for the ball in the air and injured her right foot upon landing, and was replaced by Nakasato Yu in the 14th minute for her second substitute appearance.

Kiryu Nanase made it 2-0 with just a quarter of an hour gone with a fine right-footed drive, Iwabuchi Mana having hit the bar moments earlier, having turned two JEF players and smashed in a long range effort. Panic ensued in the JEF defence when a succession of JEF defenders failed to clear the danger. Following another poor clearance from Kawamura, Ito controlled the ball well, gave a quick pass to Iwashimizu who likewise passed quickly to Nagasato. The powerful forward muscled her way past Takahashi and Yanai who dared not attempt a tackle in the box.

Nagasato made the game safe just before half-time before adding another in the 73rd minute to delight the 7,000 Iwate fans- veteran midfielder Ito Kanako again involved in the second of Nagasato's goals. From the back Beleza played the ball around until Sakaguchi pushed a long ball forward to Ito on the right wing. She easily beat Tezuka, turning the defender inside out before trying to find the onrushing Iwabuchi. The ball came back to Ito following the intervention of Takahashi. Given a second bite of the cherry Ito crossed to the unmarked Kiryu who lashed the ball across the face of the goal from the right and Nagasato made no mistake with the finish.

Beleza's next home game will be played in Akita city where they will take on Niigata. JEF United have the daunting task of hosting INAC Kobe in the weekend's early game on Saturday.

NTV Beleza:
Matsubayashi Miku, Sudo Akiko, Ariyoshi Saori, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Doko Mayo, Kobayashi Yayoi, Ito Kanako, Kiryu Nanase, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Nagasato Asano, Iwabuchi Mana
Subs: Nakasato Yu (Kobayashi Yayoi, 14 mins), Tanaka Mina (Nagasato Asano, 76 mins), Yamada Shoko (Iwabuchi Mana, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Hara Natsuko
Scorers: Own Goal (3 mins), Kiryu Nanase (15 mins), Nagasato Asano (45, 73 mins)

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Funada Mayu, Takahashi Sachie, Kawamura Mariko, Tezuka Saori, Chino Shoko, Kawamura Noriko, Hosaka Nodoka, Yanai Rina, Ikadai Risa, Fukasawa Risa (capt), Shimizu Yuka
Subs: Hosokawa Motoyo (Ikadai Risa, HT), Koike Kokoro (Yanai Rina, 62 mins), Shimada Ayako (Shimizu Yuka, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Yamane Erina