Challenge League Fifteenth Round

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School  2 - 1  Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita
(Attendance: 150)

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School again showed their title credentials with a superb victory over Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita. In the fifth minute they surprisingly went behind to a goal from Ogata Yurika. From a corner kick Tokiwagi goalkeeper Fukumura Kanae was put under pressure by Oda Kanna and couldn't quite reach the ball, resulting in it falling kindly for Ogata who easily scored to the joy of the travelling supporters.

Tokiwagi continued to attack in the same manner as always, with Nishikawa running things in midfield, Ito and Sasaki causing havoc down the wings with Shiraki and first year student Kobayashi looking to finish. Both Kobayashi and Ichise Nana had performed well in Minnesota last week in the USA Cup, and showed no signs of tiredness.

For Shizuoka Sayama, Nishiyama and Kanefuda did their best at the back to thwart the schoolgirls, while up front Okuda and Hirano looked to capitalise on Tokiwagi mistakes at the other end. Like Sayama, Takahashi Miharu had recently played for Japan at the Universiade in Russia and again showed her excellent skills in goal.

The Tokiwagi pressure was relentless and eventually they found the equaliser. Nishikawa intercepted a pass, gave the ball to Shiraki and she found Kobayashi on the right side of the penalty box. Having taken one touch, she powerfully struck into the left side of the net to her obvious delight. Minutes later she had another chance to score, this time from the spot, but with Takahashi diving the wrong way, her shot was too powerful and it rebounded back into play having struck the crossbar.

Shizuoka made some changes in looking for another goal, but it was Tokiwagi who scored the decisive goal, with Ito Miki showing marvellous skills on the left wing to create space for herself, and her pass across the box was easily converted by Shiraki for her eleventh of the season. Shizuoka piled forward in search of an equaliser, with Sayama moving from defence to attack, but it was to no avail and the home side held on for another three important points as they seek another title. They take a break now for three weeks, when they play the JSCL at home, Shizuoka take on Setagaya in Iwata next Sunday.

Fukumura Kanae in the Tokiwagi goal is put under pressure by Oda Kanna...

leaving Ogata Yurika with the easiest of finishes in the sixth minute

Tokiwagi bombarded the Shizuoka defence time and again; here Shiraki beats Kanefuda to the ball

Shizuoka had few good chances, on this occasion Hirano broke well only to see her shot well saved

Takahashi Miharu played well, here she stretches to save a powerful shot from Shiraki

Sayama Momoko powers a header against the bar in the second half

Kobayashi Rikako hits the crossbar from the spot with the score at 1-1

Shiraki finally gets the goal she deserves, with Ito Miki creating the chance
with some tremendous work down the left wing

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Fukumura Kanae, Kawasaki Saya, Kakinoki Runa, Hirata Miki, Okakura Mika (capt), Nishikawa Ayaka, Ichise Nana, Ito Miki, Shiraki Akari, Sasaki Miwa, Kobayashi Rikako
Subs: Mitamura Momoko (Ichise Nana, 71 mins), Sugihara Haruna (Shiraki Akari, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Hirakuni Mizuki, Fujino Suzuka, Yagami Yuriya
Scorers: Kobayashi Rikako (54 mins), Shiraki Akari (78 mins)
Booked: Ito Miki

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Takahashi Miharu, Nishiyama Mei, Sayama Momoko (capt), Kanefuda Anzu, Suzuki Rina, Oda Kanna, Ogata Yurika, Shimamura Kumiko, Ishida Risa, Hirano Asami, Okuda Mika
Subs: Komagata Nana (Ishida Risa, 57 mins), Shirai Aoi (Shimamura Kumiko, 60 mins), Kubota Mitsuki (Okuda Mika, 62 mins), Miyazaki Kaoru (Suzuki Rina, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Maehara Ringo
Scorers: Ogata Yurika (5 mins)
Booked: Komagata Nana


Bunnys Kyoto SC  1 - 1  Japan Soccer College Ladies
(Attendance: 70)

Toriumi Mai gave the JSCL the lead in just the sixth minute against Bunnys Kyoto, scoring her fourth goal in four consecutive games, working a fine combination down the left with Nakashima Ayaka. Bunnys did most of the running though, and eventually found an equaliser through Hanazaki Rena, her first of the season. Scoring has been a problem all season for Bunnys, and they couldn't find another. The JSCL will be pleased with their progress this season, having finished bottom in 2012, though Bunnys have made no visible progress and will need major improvements next season. That said, they should still have enough to beat Pleiades next weekend; the JSCL are at home to another side which have disappointed this season, Ehime FC Ladies.

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Konno Mai, Yu Ji Eun, Saito Hitomi, Nakamura Miki, Saito Natsumi, Kameoka Natsumi, Yamada Maho, Sawada Yuka, Kushige Aoi, Toyoda Nayuha (capt), Tanihara Yukari
Subs: Hanazaki Rena (Tanihara Yukari, 20 mins), Akiyama Ryo (Kushige Aoi, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Yamaguchi Yurie, Yoshino Yuka
Scorers: Hanazaki Rena (68 mins)
Booked: Yamada Maho

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Kawashima Kana, Kikuchi Ruri, Takahashi Sakura, Kusakari Ayako (capt), Sakaguchi Yuki, Sasaki Shiori, Tadano Yuki, Niiho Madoka, Nakashima Ayaka, Toriumi Mai, Mori Misato
Subs: Sanada Kasumi (Mori Misato, 64 mins), Nomura Natsumi (Niiho Madoka, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Fukada Ayami, Sano Saki, Kato Yoshimi
Scorers: Toriumi Mai (6 mins)


Ehime FC Ladies  3 - 2  Je Vrille Kagoshima
(Attendance: 240)

Ehime have disappointed this season having showed promise in their maiden season last year, and made very heavy work of beating the extremely poor visitors from Kagoshima. Nishigawa Sayumi opened the scoring in the 48th minute, with Nakada Maiko doubling the lead twenty minutes later from the penalty spot in her first start in six games. Ehime allowed Kagoshima back into the game however, Imanaka Yuri scoring within seconds of that second Ehime goal. With ten minutes remaining Nakada scored again to the relief of the home supporters to wrap up the three points. Kagoshima captain Sannomiya Shiki headed in her first goal this season in additional time. Ehime travel to Seirou to take on the JSCL next Sunday, Kagoshima have the weekend off and next play on Saturday the tenth away to Sfida Setagaya in Tokyo Bay.

Ehime FC Ladies:
Osako Hanako, Kawamura Akari, Onoyama Nana, Mukaidani Ayaka, Kuzuma Riyo, Shigemoto Shiho, Nishigawa Sayumi (capt), Niwa Mizuho, Kushiyama Saki, Akune Mana, Nakada Maiko
Subs: Yamashiro Miyuki (Niwa Mizuho, HT), Ogawa Manami (Shigemoto Shiho, 77 mins), Nakamura Miki (Kawamura Akari, 82 mins), Yamada Maya (Nakada Maiko, 90+2 mins), Kikuchi Mai (Akune Mana, 90+2 mins)
Scorers: Nishigawa Sayumi (48 mins), Nakada Maiko (68 mins (pen), 80 mins)
Booked: Akune Mana

Je Vrille Kagoshima:
Nakagawa Yoshimi, Sakamoto Ayaka, Hirata Misato, Mok Sun Jung, Murai Kaori, Saito Toshiko, Fukuishi Konan, Yamada Kaori, Sannomiya Shiki (capt), Imanaka Yuri, Oh Yu Sun
Subs: Mistudome Kanami (Fukuishi Konan, 30 mins)
Unused subs: Konishi Momoka
Scorers: Imanaka Yuri (69 mins), Sannomiya Shiki (90+1 mins)
Booked: Sakamoto Ayaka


AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies  2 - 0  Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades
(Attendance: 711)

Nagano welcomed a record crowd of 711 to their home game against Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades, and with a straightforward 2-0 win they move up to the dizzy heights of seventh in the table. Having started poorly this season, they have now won taken nineteen points from their last seven games and the decision by the club to appoint Honda Midori as manager is clearly paying dividends. Pleiades had almost nothing to show in an attacking sense and their hopes of survival are still reliant on the two sides below them being even less capable than they are. Uchiyama Tomoka is having a fine season for Nagano, and today scored twice to bring her season's total to eight. They next travel to Sagamihara for a much more difficult match against Nojima Stella Kanagawa; Pleiades will harbour hopes of gaining a point from their meeting with Bunnys Kyoto.

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Matsumoto Azumi, Shinohara Shihoko, Tanaka Nami (capt), Komatsu Misato, Hashiura Satsuki, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Yoshida Aoi, Takagi Nao, Uchiyama Tomoka, Hamagaki Kana, Urasaki Yuka
Subs: Kukita Yuko (Shinohara Shihoko, 79 mins), Aoshima Miyabi (Takagi Nao, 87 mins), Nomoto Hanako (Uchiyama Tomoka, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Jessica Lynne Klauzenberg, Yamashita Mayumi
Scorers: Uchiyama Tomoka (56, 65 mins)

Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades:
Sato Masami, Kobayashi Natsumi, Taniguchi Emi, Oda Sayaka, Kawachi Erika, Miyagawa Tomoko, Kanashiro Wakana (capt), Matsushita Norimi, Miura Kyoko, Hamanaka Saki, Kawasumi Saki
Subs: Inoue Yurie (Oda Sayaka, 82 mins), Hirukawa Mio (Kawasumi Saki, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Maruyama Kimi


Hoyo Sukarabu FC  0 - 7  AS Elfen Sayama FC
(Attendance: 56)

Hoyo Sukarabu were again powerless against a much stronger side, with promotion-chasing Sayama now moving ahead of Sfida Setagaya in the race to the Nadeshiko League. Ito Kanako and Suzuki Kaoruko both scored hat-tricks, in the latter's case these were her first goals of the season, with Sugiyama Takako also netting for the visitors. Sayama should win again next Saturday against Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies in Kumagaya, while Hoyo will hope for the best in Yokohama against Nittaidai.

Hoyo Sukarabu FC:
Umemura Minami, Nagamatsu Maki, Wada Mari, Kondo Nanami, Hashimoto Emiko, Kinoshita Yuuna, Sato Mitsuki (capt), Matsumoto Mei, Suzu Arisa, Hanabusa Misa, Kugimiya Risa
Subs: Nakano Mizuki (Matsumoto Mei, 75 mins), Katsuo Hitomi (Suzu Arisa, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Kiyosue Chihiro
Booked: Kondo Nanami

AS Elfen Sayama FC:
Yamago Nozomi (capt), Azami Rie, Yajima Yuki, Kiyohara Yuko, Utsumi Yui, Ito Kanako, Hagiwara Aimi, Segi Aiki, Saito Yuri, Sugiyama Takako, Nara Misaki
Subs: Suzuki Kaoruko (Sugiyama Takako, 26 mins), Kobayashi Natsumi (Utsumi Yui, 45 mins), Muraoka Natsuki (Nara Misaki, 56 mins), Otani Erina (Segi Aiki, 68 mins)
Unused subs: Kobayashi Maiko
Scorers: Ito Kanako (11, 29, 77 mins), Sugiyama Takako (12 mins), Suzuki Kaoruko (34, 48, 89 mins)


Fukuoka J. Anclas  4 - 3  Nittaidai Football Club Ladies
(Attendance: 259)

An enthralling game in Ogori saw the home side retain hopes of promotion back to the Nadeshiko League, with young Hirata Hikari scoring the winner in additional time, Nittaidai having equalised on three prior occasions. Doshita Misato scored her first of the season with a direct free kick to give Anclas the lead early on, only for Ishii Chiharu to equalise a minute later. Five minutes into the second half Hirata scored her first of the afternoon, but again the hosts were pegged back, thus time by substitute Uemura Shoko, scoring her fourth goal in four appearances. Doshita scored again direct from a free kick with eighteen minutes remaining, with another substitute Goto Ami again equalising for the students with six minutes remaining. Nittaidai surely must have felt they'd done enough to gain a point, only for Hirata to pop up again to give Fukuoka all three points as they move to within five of Sfida Setagaya. Fukuoka must keep up the pressure with a win over the JFA Academy on Saturday - easier said than done - with Nittaidai at home to bottom side Hoyo Sukarabu.

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Shimada Megumi, Iimura Ami, Hanada Aiko (capt), Yanagita Shiori, Kurahara Honami, Doshita Misato, Ukita Kotone, Yoshizawa Ai, Fujimoto Yuki, Shibuya Yumiko, Tagashira Yoko
Subs: Ito Chisa (Iimura Ami, HT), Hirata Hikari (Yoshizawa Ai, HT)
Unused subs: Jung Seul Won, Nomura Haruka, Lee Hae Mi
Scorers: Doshita Misato (17, 72 mins), Hirata Hikari (50, 90+2 mins)
Booked: Yoshizawa Ai

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Hiraide Haruka, Sakurai Mayuka, Abe Rie, Yamamoto Hirona, Oki Shiho, Oguri Mao, Yamana Maki, Shimada Chiaki (capt), Fuse Kanako, Ishii Chiharu, Uchida Misuzu
Subs: Uemura Shoko (Uchida Misuzu, HT), Goto Ami (Ishii Chiharu, 72 mins), Nagashima Hikari (Fuse Kanako, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Yamamoto Arisa, Kitano Rie
Scorers: Ishii Chiharu (18 mins), Uemura Shoko (59 mins), Goto Ami (84 mins)


Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies  3 - 9  Nojima Stella Kanagawa
(Attendance: 241)

A remarkable result in Sakai saw Nojima Stella Kanagawa brush aside the challenge of their much younger counterparts in this battle between recently promoted teams. Astonishing, all nine Nojima goals were scored by different players. Nojima were four goals to the good by half-time and the game was over as a contest by that stage, though the home side showed good spirit in the second half, scoring thrice with two goals from Nojima Sakura and another from Matsubara Shiho. Nojima will certainly be title contenders next season if not this, for the Osaka side survival this season will be seen as a success, as their young players continue to develop.

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies:
Fukunaga Erika, Fujiwara Nodoka, Inoue Hina, Azuma Manami, Morinaka Hina, Takarada Saori, Hayashi Honoka, Nishida Meika (capt), Nojima Sakura, Tanaka Mika, Matsubara Shiho
Subs: Kawahara Hikari (Fujiwara Nodoka, 34 mins), Maegawa Miki (Tanaka Mika, HT), Tamazakura Kotono (Takarada Saori, HT), Toyohara Iroha (Inoue Hina, 78 mins)
Unused subs: Ishiodori Nana
Scorers: Nojima Sakura (57, 86 mins), Matsubara Shiho (58 mins)

Nojima Stella Kanagawa:
Kobayashi Shiori, Terada Reiko, Yoshida Ayaka, Sakamoto Juri, Goto Maika, Yoshimi Natsuki, Oyama Saki (capt), Kinjo Airi, Inoue Yurie, Kawarazaki Nozomi, Kanai Nanae
Subs: Yamane Hikari (Oyama Saki, 65 mins), Nagasawa Madoka (Goto Maika, 65 mins), Kataoka Saki (Kawarazaki Nozomi, 71 mins), Nanjo Masayo (Kobayashi Shiori, 75 mins)
Scorers: Kawarazaki Nozomi (3 mins), Kanai Nanae (8 mins), Kinjo Airi (21 mins), Goto Maika (45 mins), Yoshimi Natsuki (51 mins), Terada Reiko (65 mins), Inoue Yurie (75 mins), Yoshida Ayaka (88 mins), Nagasawa Madoka (90+1 mins)