Nadeshiko League Ninth Round

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies  0 - 0  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 707)

Another low turnout for JEF United in Chiba saw a lively but ultimately disappointing match as neither side could find the breakthrough. JEF United will be pleased to have picked up their first point in three games, but will surely feel they should have taken all three. Niigata will also have felt they could have done more in the wake of their six-goal haul against Takatsuki.

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Ueno Saki, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Takahashi Sachie, Chino Shoko, Ikadai Risa, Yanai Rina, Kawamura Mari, Kawamura Yuri, Fukasawa Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kitagawa Saki (Ikadai Risa, 68 mins), Nakajima Chihiro (Yanai Rina, 79 mins), Ogawa Shiho (Kawamura Mari, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Funada Mayu, Yamamoto Naomi

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


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  0 - 3  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 1,158)

Takatsuki's season continues to look doomed, as they were very easily overwhelmed by the visitors from Okayama, who have turned things around following a disasterous start to the season. Arimachi Saori scored her second goal in two games in the first half, and in the second Yokoyama Kumi and Miyama Aya also scored, with all three players therefore now on two goals for the season. Belle now look forward to the League Cup and second half of the season with greater hope; Takatsuki's recent form gives the impression that there's little they can do to improve.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Hatanaka Miyuka, Okuda Akiko (capt), Matsuda Nozomi, Asano Miki, Sato Kaede, Torao Naomi, Hazuki Yuki, Honda Saki, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Shimamura Yuko (Matsuda Nozomi, 73 mins), Kinoshita Ai (Hazuki Yuki, 81 mins), Kanjana Sung-Ngoen (Asano Miki, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Suzuki Risa, Hirano Satoko

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Yasuda Kuniko, Kado Yuka, Miyazaki Yuka, Mizushima Kumi, Takahashi Haruka, Nakano Manami, Miyama Aya, Yokoyama Kumi, Arimachi Saori, Matsuoka Miki
Subs: Fushiki Kaho (Yokoyama Kumi, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Ikegaya Natsumi, Tsuhako Yumiko, Sakai Nozomi, Yamaguchi Mami
Scorers: Arimachi Saori (15 mins), Yokoyama Kumi (54 mins), Miyama Aya (75 mins)


NTV Beleza  5 - 0  Vegalta Sendai Ladies
(Attendance: 1,358)

Beleza completely overwhelmed Vegalta Sendai in Akita today with an impressive five-goal blitz. In the first half a headed goal from Kiryu was followed up by a goal from Sakaguchi Mizuho in her second start. Minutes after the restart Sakaguchi was on hand again to head home her second of the game, and this third goal for Beleza knocked the wind out of the visitors. Two minutes later Kiryu had her second of the game, and with a full thirty minutes remaining, Beleza's top scorer Tanaka Mina was on hand to score her fourth in three games and seventh for the season. Beleza now look forward to the defence of their League Cup title, while Vegalta Sendai will look to regroup and hope for the best in a tough group.

NTV Beleza:
Soyama Kanako, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Doko Mayo, Ariyoshi Saori, Hasegawa Yui, Sumida Rin, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Momiki Yuka, Tanaka Mina, Kiryu Nanase
Subs: Hara Natsuko (Sumida Rin, 37 mins), Nakasato Yu (Kiryu Nanase, 63 mins), Kobayashi Miharu (Hasegawa Yui, 72 mins)
Unused subs: Mochizuki Arisa, Sudo Akiko
Scorers: Kiryu Nanase (18, 53 mins), Sakaguchi Mizuho (42, 51 mins), Tanaka Mina (60 mins)
Booked: Sumida Rin, Kiryu Nanase

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Amano Misaki, Sakai Yuki, Shimokozuru Aya (capt), Osafune Kana, Sasaki Mayu, Inoue Ayaka, Takara Ryoko, Uetsuji Yumi, Yasumoto Sawako, Ito Minako, Ono Hitomi
Subs: Kawashima Haruna (Ono Hitomi, 62 mins), Yamamoto Risa (Inoue Ayaka, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Saita Yuki, Takahashi Nana, Ideue Asako


FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme  0 - 6  INAC Kobe Leonessa
(Attendance: 1,687)

FC Kibi brought back Takahashi Chiho to the starting lineup for their meeting with INAC Kobe, for whom Takase Megumi made her first start since the opening day. The champions had made the best possible start to the defence of their title and were fully expected to win comfortably.

A fine ball from Sawa saw Kawasumi lift the ball perfectly over Morimoto to give INAC Kobe the lead after 45 seconds. From a deep free kick in the fifth minute the ball came through to Noma who had Kibi's first shot on target, though it was no trouble for Kaihori. Having conceded so early, Kibi clearly felt they hadn't too much to lose and continued to go forward and take shots when possible.

INAC Kobe were playing the ball around well in midfield and Ji had a chance in the eleventh minute but hit the post. At the back the champions were less sure of themselves, as Kibi looked to put pressure on their defenders. In the fourteenth minute Ji wasn't to be denied as a header back to her from Goebel-Yanez found her in enough space to blast home for the second goal.

INAC continued to make good chances for themselves with Kibi defending desperately, though the home side did get into some good but not great positions at the other end. After thirty minutes Noma was replaced by Adachi, and just after a good ball into the box was not dealt with by Imanishi and
Goebel-Yanez shot just wide.

Following a Kibi corner INAC broke well and Takase had a chance to shoot when Kawasumi laid the ball off to her, but her shot was weak and Morimoto saved comfortably.

At half-time Tanaka Shiho entered the game, replacing Imanishi in defence. Takase had another good
chance in the first minute but hit the post and the ball ran free. Kibi had done an awful lot of running and pressing in the first half and there was a feeling that they could become exhausted in the hot conditions.

Ji So Yun had her second in the 49th minute following a good Kawsumi pass to Goebel-Yanez and her layback found the Korean international in space and her shot into the top left hand corner was
perfect. A marvellous ball through to Kawasumi from Ji saw Kawasumi round Morimoto and then evade Muramatsu to roll the ball into the net for the fourth in the 57th minute. Moments later, Goebel-Yanez was on target but the power was lacking and it was an easy save for the goalkeeper. Tanaka Yoko entered the game with an hour gone, replacing Takase.

Takano Saki made her first appearance of the season, following a broken foot early in the year. She
replaced the hard-working Hamamoto in the 65th minute. A mistake by Tanaka Shiho put Goebel-Yanez in but she blasted over in the 68th minute.

Rebecca Moros made her way into the game with just over fifteen minutes to go as fatigue started to
play a large role. INAC continued to play well and Kibi looked for every chance to shoot at goal,
Nishikawa in particular was willing to try her luck from all angles and distances.

On 83 minutes Tanaka Asuna was replaced by Kibi graduate Isokane Midori, just moments after Kawasumi shot just wide of the left hand post, seeking out her hat-trick. Ji was caught late by Takahashi and was slightly injured, with Takahashi receiving a yellow card for her troubles.

INAC beat the offside trap in the 86th minute, Ji running clear and finding Tanaka Yoko in the middle
and she made no mistake from close range.Just at the end of additional time Ji So Yun scored a marvellous goal to give herself a hat-trick, running with the ball from well inside her own half and slotting home to her obvious delight.

INAC Kobe thus go into the League Cup campaign with a 100% record, while Kibi have five points.
They'll need to work hard to avoid relegation in the second half of the season. For INAC Kobe, the
title now seems only a matter of time.

FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme:
Morimoto Kiyo, Takeda Arisa, Imanishi Azusa, Muramatsu Mafuyu, Kamata Ran, Shigemasa Kai, Sugita Ami (capt), Hamamoto Marin, Nishikawa Asuka, Takahashi Chiho, Noma Fumika
Subs: Adachi Eriko (Noma Fumika, 31 mins), Tanaka Shiho (Imanishi Azusa, HT), Takano Saki (Hamamoto Marin, 65 mins)
Unused subs: Isashi Kaede, Kanbara Misaki
Booked: Hamamoto Marin, Takahashi Chiho

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Nakajima Emi, Kai Junko, Tanaka Asuna, Watanabe Ayaka, Ji So Yun, Sawa Homare, Minamiyama Chiaki, Kawasumi Nahomi (capt), Beverly Goebel-Yanez, Takase Megumi
Subs: Tanaka Yoko (Takase Megumi, 61 mins), Rebecca Moros (Watanabe Ayaka, 75 mins), Isokane Midori (Tanaka Asuna, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Michigami Ayaka
Scorers: Kawasumi Nahomi (1, 57 mins), Ji So Yun (14, 49, 90+3 mins), Tanaka Yoko (87 mins)


Iga FC Kunoichi  0 - 0  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 1,016)

Iga started with the same eleven which had beaten JEF United, with Urawa bringing Kishikawa back into the starting lineup following her one-match ban. Although Iga had more of the chances, neither side were able to produce a goal and the away side again picked up a single point as their struggles this season continue. Iga's run of wins comes to an end at three, though they will be delighted with their overall progress this season.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Sawada Norimi, Miyasako Tamami, Michikura Hiroko, Ono Suzuka, Kiyohara Marie, Nasu Maiko (capt), Matsunaga Tomoe, Kobayashi Makiko, Tsutsumi Saki, Noichi Aya, Nakade Hikari
Subs: Matsunaga Yoshie (Matsunaga Tomoe, 78 mins), Sakaguchi Sakie (Kobayashi Makiko, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Sato Ai, Yamaguchi Ayako, Haji Madoka
Booked: Kiyohara Marie

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Wada Naoko, Dozono Ayano, Sakamoto Riho, Takeyama Yuko, Yasuda Yuki, Fujita Nozomi, Kishikawa Natsuki, Kato Chika, Shibata Hanae, Goto Michi (capt)
Unused subs: Tajiri Yumi, Takeuchi Nozomi, Kurishima Akari, Naomoto Hikaru, Kira Chinatsu