Challenge League Twelfth Round

Vegalta Sendai begin second half of season in determined fashion 

Vegalta Sendai Ladies  2 - 1  JFA Academy Fukushima
(Attendance: 806)

Vegalta Sendai continued on their merry way to the Nadeshiko League with a tight victory at home against JFA Academy. JFA put out their strongest side, with the girls who had played in Spain making their return.

Okinawan Kakaku Asuka, one of only two Sendai players who have started every game this season, got both goals in a three minute spell in the first half, the first a left footed strike from a Uetsuji corner and the second a header from an Ideue cross. The Academy's top scorer by quite some distance this year has been Masuya Rika, and she struck again in the 55th minute to make things tense for the home side and its supporters.

In the end Sendai did enough to hang on and take all three points, and though the sub-1,000 crowd will have been disappointing in this trip to Koriyama in Fukushima prefecture, next week's game against local schoolgirls Tokiwagi Gakuen promises to be a memorable encounter. Sendai stay top, while JFA Academy are sixth.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Amano Misaki, Nakamura Mami, Sakai Yuki, Osafune Kana, Ideue Asako, Shimokozuru Aya (capt), Ono Hitomi, Kakazu Asuka, Uetsuji Yumi, Nakahara Saori, Ito Minako
Subs: Takahashi Nana (Ono Hitomi, HT), Yasumoto Sawako (Kakazu Asuka, 87 mins), Yamamoto Risa (Nakamura Mami, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Saita Yuki, Tanaka Keiko
Scorers: Kakazu Asuka (35, 38 mins)

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Hirao Chika, Yamamori Anna, Miyake Shiori (capt), Norimatsu Ruka, Yoshitake Manami, Moriya Miyabi, Narumiya Yui, Mizutani Yuki, Kadoi Megumi, Kojima Miku, Masuya Rika
Subs: Sunaga Manami (Kojima Miku, 75 mins)
Unused subs: Inoue Nene, Mori Sayaka, Kojima Hikaru
Scorers: Masuya Rika (55 mins)


Japan Soccer College Ladies  2 - 3  Tokiwagi Gakuen High School
(Attendance: 160)

JSCL found themselves in the highly unusual position of being two goals up in a game, when an own goal and an Iwasaki Manami headed goal saw them take the initiative against high-flying Tokiwagi Gakuen. Unfortunately for the home side, the lead lasted barely seventeen minutes as Matsuura Nagisa scored two to add to her goal last game to bring the visitors level by half-time.

In the 76th minute the dependable Ito Miki took a pass from Michigami Ayaka and scored the winner to keep her side in the top four with the home game against Vegalta Sendai to come. JSCL stay bottom, three points adrift of Nagano.

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Fukada Ayami, Takahashi Sakura, Hayashimoto Saki, Usui Rika, Goto Sanae, Toriumi Mai (capt), Sasaki Shiori, Sakaguchi Yuki, Shanou Miki, Iwasaki Manami, Nakayama Aoi
Subs: Matsumoto Hotaru (Nakayama Aoi, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Komatsu Akane, Endo Yuu, Sakai Manami, Toyota Yuri
Scorers: Own Goal (19 mins), Iwasaki Manami (23 mins)

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Hayashizaki Mei, Takamura Chisato, Okamori Kasane (capt), Okakura Mika, Kosuda Rina, Matsukubo Akari, Shiraki Akari, Ito Miki, Horii Mizuki, Matsuura Nagisa, Michigami Ayaka
Subs: Sugihara Haruna (Horii Mizuki, HT), Yagami Yuriya (Matsukubo Akari, 70 mins)
Unused subs: Kakinoki Runa, Tanaka Yasuko, Yahata Asuka
Scorers: Matsuura Nagisa (24, 40 mins), Ito Miki (76 mins)


Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita  3 - 3  Je Vrille Kagoshima
(Attendance: 162)

Shizuoka and Kagoshima played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with neither side able to keep a lead for very long.

In the 34th minute Oda Kanna resumed where the left off last time with another goal to give the students a 1-0 half-time lead. Nine minutes after the restart Shizuoka were looking good for all three points when captain Kanefuda Anzu scored from the spot. However, the lead quickly disappeared when Kagoshima went on a 21 minute three-goal scoring spree. Nakashima Ayaka pulled the first back four minutes after the penalty had been scored, and Niiho Madoka headed home the equaliser seven minutes later. With eleven minutes remaining the visitors had the lead for the first time, Imanaka Yuri finding the net from a Nakashima pass. Their joy was short-lived though, as barely two minutes later Oda struck again for Shizuoka; her second brace in two games for her side and their second 3-3 draw in a row.

Both sides are now well out of contention for promotion but will be looking for wins next weekend over sides they have already respectively beaten this season.

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Maehara Ringo, Nishiyama Mei, Kitaoka Chiaki, Kanefuda Anzu (capt), Komagata Nana, Kanno Mie, Sayama Momoko, Suzuki Rina, Shirai Aoi, Okuda Mika, Oda Kanna
Subs: Ito Mari (Kanno Mie, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Takahashi Miharu, Hirata Misato, Matsuno Miyuki, Iida Miku
Scorers: Oda Kanna (34, 81 mins), Kanefuda Anzu (54 mins)

Je Vrille Kagoshima:
Eguchi Mika, Miyazako Fumika, Kurahara Honami, Nijima Yuki, Nakae Maki (capt), Shimada Naoko, Nozaki Ayumi, Niiho Madoka, Sannomiya Shiki, Nakashima Ayaka, Imanaka Yuri
Subs: Moriwaki Satsuki (Sannomiya Shiki, 79 mins), Hamada Erina (Nakae Maki, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Mitsudome Kanami
Scorers: Nakashima Ayaka (58 mins), Niiho Madoka (65 mins), Imanaka Yuri (79 mins)
Booked: Sannomiya Shiki


Bunnys Kyoto SC  0 - 2  Nittaidai Football Club Ladies
(Attendance: 100)

Nittaidai kept up the pressure on the top two with a routine victory over hosts Bunnys Kyoto today. Bunnys named an unchanged side while Nittaidai welcomed back Yamagata Hisami.

In the tenth minute Ishii Chiharu scored following good work down the middle by Uemura Shoko, and Uemura herself added the second ten minutes into the second half, keeping up her good run with her seventh goal in as many games.

Bunnys stay deep in the division, third from bottom and next face Sfida Setagaya who beat them by seven goals to nil in their first meeting this season. Nittaidai face fellow students Shizuoka with a score to settle, having lost the away fixture 2-0.

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Isashi Kaede, Hanazaki Rena, Fujino Aiko, Ii Kiyono, Sada Fumika, Ukita Kotone, Yamashita Yu, Watanabe Juri, Miura Kyoko (capt), Kinjo Keina, Miyai Mina
Subs: Fujimoto Ami (Sada Fumika, 67 mins), Kawachi Erika (Miyai Mina, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Akiyama Tomomi, Yanagimura Ayano

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Yamamoto Arisa, Sakurai Mayuka, Yamagata Hisami, Nagashima Hikari, Oguri Mao, Ishii Chiharu, Kitano Rie, Ito Yukina, Fujisawa Marin, Shimada Chiaki, Uemura Shoko
Subs: Kudo Asami (Ito Yukina, 76 mins), Shimokawa Saori (capt) (Kitano Rie, 84 mins), Takashima Ruriko (Ishii Chiharu, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Togashi Kaori, Aoyagi Maririn
Scorers: Ishii Chiharu (10 mins), Uemura Shoko (55 mins)
Booked: Shimada Chiaki


Ehime FC Ladies  1 - 3  FC Takahashi Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme
(Attendance: 570)

Ehime's largest crowd of the season turned out for the visit of second-placed FC Takahashi and witnessed an astonishing attacking display by the visiting students. In total Takahashi had 28 shots at goal compared to Ehime's 4, though the important statistic is that Takahashi won and remain in contention at the top.

Takano Saki wasted no time in putting her side one up, Nishikawa Asuka sending her through to score. Despite an onslaught on the Ehime goal, the score remained 1-0 until the second minute of the second half, when Shigemasa slotted home for her first of the season. Muramatsu made it 3-0 with her first of the season, knocking the ball in from a corner with less than ten minutes remaining. Ehime did get a consolation though, Onoyama heading in with five minutes left.

Ehime stay mid-table and are at home to Kagoshima, who have the same number of points, while FC Takahashi will be heavy favourites to beat JSCL at home next Sunday.

Ehime FC Ladies:
Osako Hanako, Hagiwara Masumi, Onoyama Nana, Sato Hiromi, Ogawa Akari, Iwamoto Yuka, Yamashiro Miyuki, Akune Mana, Haruyama Saori, Nishigawa Sayumi, Nakada Maiko (capt)
Subs: Kushiyama Saki (Akune Mana, 55 mins), Uesato Saki (Nakada Maiko, 77 mins), Niwa Mizuho (Iwamoto Yuka, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Marugata Rie, Ogawa Manami
Scorers: Onoyama Nana (85 mins)
Booked: Ogawa Akari

FC Takahashi Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme:
Yamamoto Ayaka, Takeda Arisa, Muramatsu Mafuyu, Imanishi Azusa, Koike Ayano, Shigemasa Kai, Takano Saki, Sugita Ami, Kanbara Misaki, Noma Fumika (capt), Nishikawa Asuka
Subs: Kurakazu Shiho (Noma Fumika, 38 mins), Kamata Ran (Kanbara Misaki, 52 mins), Tanaka Shiho (Takeda Arisa, 75 mins), Tachibana Rei (Kurakazu Shiho, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Sakamoto Aoi
Scorers: Takano Saki (4 mins), Shigemasa Kai (47 mins), Muramatsu Mafuyu (81 mins)