Nadeshiko League Third Round

INAC Kobe Leonessa  3 - 0  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 2,503)

With the roof closed due to bad weather, table topping INAC Kobe made no changes to their lineup for the visit of bottom side Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki, who brought in young Hazuki Yuki for the injured Kanjana Sung-Ngoen. Hazuki had scored last weekend to briefly level things up against NTV Beleza, only for the Takatsuki side to concede two late goals.

On five minutes Tanaka Yoko had the first shot on goal which was comfortably saved by Ono, and it is fair to say that in the opening fifteen minutes there was very little in the way of exciting goal chances. Goebel-Yanez charged down an Ono clearance in the 17th minute but the ricochet was unkind for the INAC forwards and the chance was lost. Over the next ten minutes the home side increased the tempo and created more chances for themselves though their finishing was quite poor by their own high standards and for the most part the Takatsuki defence kept their shape. At the other end Hazuki had their first shot on target though she didn't catch it well and it was no problem for Kaihori.

On 39 minutes the the breakthrough finally came for the champions as Tanaka Asuna headed in a Ji free kick from close range. While Ono was hardly to blame for the first goal, she gifted the second to INAC just before the half-time whistle when another free kick, this time from the right was knocked in and what looked an easily-saveable header from Minamiyama Chiaki was palmed weakly into the net to gve INAC Kobe what already looked to be an unassailable lead entering the second half.

Minamiyama should have had another just after the restart when she couldn't quite connect with a ball across the face of goal from Tanaka Yoko. Shortly after, following a foul on Kawasumi, INAC once again scored from a free kick, this time Sawa Homare headed in, while Ono will again feel she could have done better.

Tsuboi hit the crossbar for Takatsuki in the 75th minute which was the closest her side came to scoring. Hazuki had impressed with her energy and enthusiasm and for INAC Kobe Goebel-Yanez impressed with her skills on the ball, and hit the post with a good shot just before the end of the game.

A facile win for INAC Kobe then, and they moved three points clear ahead of the games on Sunday. Takatasuki remain rooted to the bottom without a single point and will need impressive performances all over the park and the return of their two injured Thai players if they are to remain in the top division next season.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Nakajima Emi, Isokane Midori, Tanaka Asuna, Watanabe Ayaka, Ji So Yun, Sawa Homare, Minamiyama Chiaki, Kawasumi Nahomi (capt), Beverly Goebel-Yanez, Tanaka Yoko
Subs: Michigami Ayaka (Tanaka Yoko, 71 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Shimizu Akane, Nakada Ayu, Hirano Rina
Scorers: Tanaka Asuna (39 mins), Minamiyama Chiaki (45 mins), Sawa Homare (48 mins)

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Hatanaka Miyuka, Okuda Akiko (capt), Akiba Yumeko, Maruyama Karina, Torao Naomi, Matsuda Nozomi, Sato Kaede, Shimamura Yuko, Hazuki Yuki
Subs: Asano Miki (Shimamura Yuko, 59 mins), Honda Saki (Torao Naomi, 85 mins), Ikeda Asumi (Matsuda Nozomi, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Suzuki Risa, Toyama Sayuri


NTV Beleza  4 - 0  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 833)

Tanaka Mina scored twice as Beleza brushed aside Niigata to maintain their perfect start to the season. All four goals came in the second half, with Nakasato Yu and Iwashimizu Azusa also scoring to make it a very comfortable afternoon for the home side.

NTV Beleza:
Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Sudo Akiko, Ariyoshi Saori, Hasegawa Yui, Sumida Rin, Nakasato Yu, Momiki Yuka, Tanaka Mina, Kiryu Nanase
Subs: Hara Natsuko (Hasegawa Yui, 55 mins), Sakaguchi Mizuho (Momiki Yuka, 76 mins), Kobayashi Miharu (Kiryu Nanase, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Mochizuki Arisa, Kinoshita Shiori
Scorers: Nakasato Yu (49 mins), Iwashimizu Azusa (52 mins), Tanaka Mina (58, 65 mins)

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Koganemaru Sachie, Yamamoto Arina, Nakamura Kaede, Kitahara Kana, Obara Yuria, Saeki Aya, Saito Yuri, Sakaguchi Moeno, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Yamazaki Marumi, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Hirai Sakina (Yamamoto Arina, 60 mins), Kodama Keiko (Oishi Sayaka, 68 mins), Shimokawa Saori (Sakaguchi Moeno, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Ichitani Tomoko, Takamura Chisato


Okayama Yunogo Belle  2 - 1  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 2,024)

Belle were relieved to have their first win of the season, as Urawa slipped to their second consecutive defeat. Nakano Manami scored her first of the season to give the hosts the lead at half-time. Urawa fought back and with eight minutes remaining Kira Chinatsu equalised. Belle weren't satisfied with a point though, and in additional time Yokoyama Kumi scored the winning goal, with Miyama Aya assisting twice for Belle.

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Yasuda Kuniko, Kado Yuka, Miyazaki Yuka, Nagamachi Yuri, Takahashi Haruka, Nakano Manami, Miyama Aya, Mizushima Kumi, Arimachi Saori, Matsuoka Miki
Subs: Yokoyama Kumi (Mizushima Kumi, 75 mins)
Unused subs: Ikegaya Natsumi, Sakai Nozomi, Fushiki Kaho
Scorers: Nakano Manami (37 mins), Yokoyama Kumi (90+1 mins)

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Ishii Saki, Sakamoto Riho, Kohata Shiho, Saito Akane, Kishikawa Natsuki, Fujita Nozomi, Shibata Hanae, Dozono Ayano, Yasuda Yuki, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Kira Chinatsu (Dozono Ayano, HT)
Unused subs: Tajiri Yumi, Takeuchi Nozomi, Nakamura Mizuki, Kurishima Akari
Scorers: Kira Chinatsu (82 mins)


Vegalta Sendai Ladies  2 - 0  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 2,011)

Vegalta Sendai overcame Iga in heavy rain in their first home game in the Nadeshiko League. Sendai took the lead through Takara Ryoko, coming in from the left side and scoring a surprising goal. In the second half following a scramble in the box Sakai Yuki made it 2-0 and Sendai move onto seven points from three games.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Amano Misaki, Sakai Yuki, Shimokozuru Aya (capt), Osafune Kana, Takara Ryoko, Yasumoto Sawako, Takahashi Nana, Uetsuji Yumi, Kakazu Asuka, Ono Hitomi, Ito Minako
Subs: Koyama Kie (Ono Hitomi, 78 mins), Nakamura Mami (Shimokozuru Aya, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Saita Yuki, Sasaki Mayu, Inoue Ayaka
Scorers: Takara Ryoko (33 mins), Sakai Yuki (73 mins)
Booked: Ito Minako

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Miyasako Tamami, Ono Suzuka, Sato Ai, Yamaguchi Ayako, Nasu Maiko (capt), Haji Madoka, Kobayashi Makiko, Tsutsumi Saki, Matsunaga Yoshie, Nakade Hikari
Subs: Noichi Aya (Haji Madoka, 58 mins), Kiyohara Marie (Yamaguchi Ayako, 63 mins), Sonomura Nana (Matsunaga Yoshie, 71 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Michikura Hiroko
Booked: Miyasako Tamami


FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme  1 - 2  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 288)

A late goal by Ogawa Shiho for JEF United broke Kibi's hearts as they looked to claim another precious point. A mistake by Yamane Erina in the JEF goal gave Takahashi Chiho the easiest of chances to put Kibi 1-0 up after twelve minutes. Fukusawa Risa equalised on 57 minutes and her pass to Ogawa saw her shoot expertly into the corner, as the visitors continue their impressive start to the season.

FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme:
Morimoto Kiyo, Takeda Arisa, Muramatsu Mafuyu, Imanishi Azusa, Kamata Ran, Shigemasa Kai, Sugita Ami (capt), Hamamoto Marin, Nishikawa Asuka, Takahashi Chiho, Noma Fumika
Subs: Komatsu Mina (Hamamoto Marin, 64 mins), Kanbara Misaki (Noma Fumika, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Isashi Kaede, Yoshitake Manami, Nakai Yuna
Scorers: Takahashi Chiho (12 mins)
Booked: Komatsu Mina

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Ueno Saki, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Takahashi Sachie, Chino Shoko, Ikadai Risa, Yanai Rina, Kitagawa Saki, Kawamura Yuri, Fukasawa Risa, Ogawa Shiho
Subs: Hosokawa Motoyo (Kawamura Yuri, 49 mins), Anzai Yuka (Kitagawa Saki, 71 mins), Yamamoto Naomi (Ikadai Risa, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Funada Mayu, Matsuura Nagisa
Scorers: Fukasawa Risa (57 mins), Ogawa Shiho (87 mins)
Booked: Kawamura Yuri, Ikadai Risa