Challenge League Seventeenth Round

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School  1 - 0  Japan Soccer College Ladies
(Attendance: 200)

Tokiwagi Gakuen return to the top of the Challenge League following a tight 1-0 victory over the JSCL. The home side dominated the game from start to finish and will feel that they should have won much more convincingly. Ito Miki made a number of strong runs down the right but was denied on several occasions by Kawashima Kana in the JSCL goal, who was very impressive throughout. The Tokiwagi girls have been busy lately and while their buildup play was as slick as always, they showed clear signs of tiredness and a lack of sharpness in their finishing. For the JSCL Kusakari Ayako was the heroine in defence and the side look much more composed and organised under her leadership. Their main threat up front as always came from Toriumi Mai who ran with the ball well but was well defended against and was unable to produce a shot on target.

With each passing minute and each wasted chance it looked as if it would not be Tokiwagi Gakuen's day, but they kept their shape and their rhythm and eventually in the 66th minute Shiraki scored from just outside the box, Kawashima getting her gloves to the ball but for once was not able to keep it out. The JSCL pushed on looking for an equaliser and substitute Iwasaki Manami made some impressive runs down the left and made trouble for Hirata Miki in the Tokiwagi back line.

In the end the JSCL were unable to make the breakthrough, as the home side's organisation and skill kept them at bay. A point clear at the top, Tokiwagi Gakuen can go further clear on Wednesday when they take on Ehime in a game postponed from last April. Although nominally a home game for Tokiwagi Gakuen, it will in fact be played in Matsuyama, Ehime. The JSCL are at home to Sfida Setagaya next Saturday evening.

Early in the game Toriumi Mai broke through the Tokiwagi defence
but Hirata Miki timed her tackle perfectly to deny her a shooting chance

Ito Miki made some superb runs into the box, here the equally impressive Kawashima
gets fingertips to the ball to deflect it away

Kato Yoshimi clears off the line when Kawasaki Saya looked certain to score

The Tokiwagi players missed some chances they would normally expect to score easily,
here Shiraki Akari looks on in anguish as her shot goes right of the post

Initially Tokiwagi Gakuen attempted inswinging corner kicks, but found Kawashima
equal on every occasion. In the second half they showed much more variation in their approach

Fukumura Kanae was little troubled in the Tokiwagi goal as the defence
in front of her restricted the JSCL to long range shots

Captain Okakura Mika's fine shot is tipped onto the crossbar by Kawashima

Although Kawashima got hands to this Shiraki shot she wasn't able
to hold it and the home side finally had the lead

Toriumi Mai made some fine penetrating runs and shot whenever possible;
the Tokiwagi defence knew well to restrict her to shots from distance

Iwasaki Manami made life difficult for the Tokiwagi defence in the latter stages

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Fukumura Kanae, Kawasaki Saya, Kakinoki Runa, Hirata Miki, Okakura Mika (capt), Matsukubo Akari, Nishikawa Ayaka, Ichise Nana, Ito Miki, Kobayashi Rikako, Shiraki Akari
Subs: Sugihara Haruna (Matsukubo Akari, HT), Mitsuhashi Asuka (Shiraki Akari, 66 mins), Hirakuni Mizuki (Kobayashi Rikako, 81 mins), Mitamura Momoko (Ichise Nana, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Yagami Yuriya
Scorers: Shiraki Akari (66 mins)

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Kawashima Kana, Takahashi Sakura, Kusakari Ayako (capt), Kato Yoshimi, Sano Saki, Tadano Yuki, Sasaki Shiori, Sakaguchi Yuki, Niiho Madoka, Toriumi Mai, Matsumoto Hotaru
Subs: Kawajiri Mayu (Matsumoto Hotaru, 64 mins), Iwasaki Manami (Niiho Madoka, 64 mins)
Unused subs: Fukada Ayami, Kikuchi Ruri, Nomura Natsumi


The following games were played on August 10th and 11th

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies  1 - 6  AS Elfen Sayama FC
(Attendance: 566)

AS Elfen Sayama took no chances against Nagano, naming a strong side as they looked to pull away from the chasing pack. Arakawa Eriko scored after six minutes to settle any nerves, with Hagiwara Aimi heading in a second on 29 minutes. Sayama showed their class in the second half, with Saito Yuri, Ito Kanako, Segi Aiki and Ohno Shinobu all scoring - Ohno with her first goal for her new club. Arakawa has now scored nineteen this season, with Ito on seventeen. Urasaki Yuka pulled a goal back late on for Nagano to no avail. The home side travel to Yokohama to take on Nittaidai next, Sayama are at home to Bunnys Kyoto.

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Matsumoto Azumi, Shinohara Shihoko, Tanaka Nami (capt), Hatano Saki, Hashiura Satsuki, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Yoshida Aoi, Takagi Nao, Uchiyama Tomoka, Hamagaki Kana, Urasaki Yuka
Subs: Komatsu Misato (Hatano Saki, 68 mins)
Unused subs: Unoki Mao, Yamashita Mayumi, Aoshima Miyabi, Nomoto Hanako
Scorers: Urasaki Yuka (82 mins)

AS Elfen Sayama FC:
Yamago Nozomi (capt), Azami Rie, Yajima Yuki, Takahashi Yuko, Kiyohara Yuko, Ito Kanako, Hagiwara Aimi, Ohno Shinobu, Saito Yuri, Arakawa Eriko, Nara Misaki
Subs: Suzuki Kaoruko (Nara Misaki, 39 mins), Kobayashi Natsumi (Takahashi Yuko, 62 mins), Utsumi Yui (Kiyohara Yuko, 62 mins), Segi Aiki (Saito Yuri, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Kobayashi Maiko
Scorers: Arakawa Eriko (6 mins), Hagiwara Aimi (29 mins), Saito Yuri (50 mins), Ohno Shinobu (57 mins), Ito Kanako (64 mins), Segi Aiki (90+1 mins)


Sfida Setagaya FC  6 - 0  Je Vrille Kagoshima
(Attendance: 586)

Setagaya got themselves back on track following some recent disappointments, though they still trail Sayama by five points in the race for automatic promotion. This six goal victory does move them clear of Fukuoka though, following the latter's surprise defeat to Shizuoka Sangyo, to whom Setagaya lost last weekend. Shimojo Aya scored her second hat-trick of the season, Nagasaki Akane scored a brace on just her second substitute appearance and League top scorer Mori Hitomi scored a penalty with five minutes remaining to take her season total to twenty-one. Kagoshima were again completely overwhelmed and their chances are running out. They are the first side to concede over one hundred goals and their only realistic opportunities of victory are against fellow strugglers Hoyo Sukarabu and Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies. Setagaya are next away to the JSCL and will expect to win.

Sfida Setagaya FC:
Kawaguchi Mana, Fukuhara Nao, Kawashima Tamai, Tanaka Marina (capt), Nagata Maya, Tanaka Mariko, Usuda Haruka, Shimojo Aya, Oba Saori, Mori Hitomi, Ono Midori
Subs: Nagasaki Akane (Oba Saori, 54 mins), Shano Miki (Nagata Maya, 58 mins), Kuwahara Yoshie (Usuda Haruka, 68 mins), Kotabe Yuri (Ono Midori, 68 mins)
Unused subs: Osaki Aimi
Scorers: Shimojo Aya (11, 39, 82 mins), Nagasaki Akane (63, 90 mins), Mori Hitomi (85 mins, pen)

Je Vrille Kagoshima:
Nakagawa Yoshimi, Yamada Kaori, Mok Sun Jung, Hirata Misato, Murai Kaori, Saito Toshiko, Mitsudome Kanami, Sakamoto Ayaka, Imanaka Yuri, Sannomiya Shiki (capt), Oh Yu Sun
Subs: Konishi Momoka (Hirata Misato, 41 mins), Fukuishi Konan (Mitsudome Kanami, 72 mins)
Booked: Sakamoto Ayaka


Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies  0 - 3  Nittaidai Football Club Ladies
(Attendance: 148)

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies gave a good account of themselves again today, matching the visiting students in terms of chances, but the more experienced Nittaidai players took the upper hand in the first half and were always in control. Ito Yukina scored her first of the season in the fifth minute following a through pass from Oguri, and on 35 minutes young Kikuchi Kana scored her first goal for the university. With nineteen minutes remaining Kikuchi had her second, with Oguri again supplying the final ball. Nittaidai will need to win all of their five remaining games to surpass their points total from last season, beginning with Nagano on Saturday the 24th. On the following day the Osaka girls take on schoolgirl rivals the JFA Academy in Gotenba.

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies:
Fukunaga Erika, Fujiwara Nodoka, Kawahara Hikari, Azuma Manami, Morinaka Hina, Matsubara Shiho, Nishida Meika (capt), Hayashi Honoka, Maegawa Miki, Tamazakura Kotono, Takarada Saori
Subs: Inoue Hina (Tamazakura Kotono, HT), Nojima Sakura (Maegawa Miki, HT), Tanaka Mika (Takarada Saori, 58 mins), Toyohara Iroha (Morinaka Hina, 76 mins), Shiba Hiyori (Fukunaga Erika, 89 mins)

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Yamamoto Arisa, Maeda Risa, Ozeki Miyu, Yamaguchi Minami, Fujisawa Marin, Yamamoto Hirona, Yamana Maki, Oguri Mao (capt), Ito Yukina, Kitano Rie, Kikuchi Kana
Subs: Ito Riho (Yamaguchi Minami, HT), Nakayama Ayaka (Ito Yukina, 66 mins)
Scorers: Ito Yukina (5 mins), Kikuchi Kana (35, 71 mins)
Booked: Yamamoto Hirona


Ehime FC Ladies  6 - 1  Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades
(Attendance: 230)

Ehime bounced back well as expected today, though nothing less was expected against such weak opposition. Pleiades surprisingly took the lead in the first half, Miyagawa Tomoko heading in for her second of the season. Ehime struck back well in additional time, with both Nishigawa and Kushiyama scoring to turn the game around. In the second half Ehime completely dominated, with Pleiades unable to register a single shot at goal. Nishigawa scored again, Akune struck her ninth of the season and there were two late goals for Kuzuma and Ono. Ehime's next game is on Wednesday the 21st against Tokiwagi Gakuen; although an away game, it will be played in Ehime. Pleiades take on Shizuoka Sangyo in a local derby on Sunday the 18th.

Ehime FC Ladies:
Osako Hanako, Kushiyama Saki, Onoyama Nana, Sato Hiromi, Nishimura Nozomi, Iwamoto Yuka, Yamashiro Miyuki, Nishigawa Sayumi (capt), Ogawa Manami, Akune Mana, Nakada Maiko
Subs: Kuzuma Riyo (Nakada Maiko, 68 mins), Senba Yuna (Ogawa Manami, 68 mins), Kawamura Akari (Nishigawa Sayumi, 80 mins), Ono Miyuu (Akune Mana, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Mukaidani Ayaka
Scorers: Nishigawa Sayumi (45+1, 63 mins), Kushiyama Saki (45+4 mins), Akune Mana (49 mins), Kuzuma Riyo (76 mins), Ono Miyuu (88 mins)
Booked: Ogawa Manami

Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades:
Sato Masami, Inoue Yurie, Taniguchi Emi, Kawachi Erika, Oda Sayaka, Miyagawa Tomoko, Kanashiro Wakana (capt), Hamanaka Saki, Matsushita Norimi, Miura Kyoko, Kawasumi Saki
Subs: Kobayashi Natsumi (Kawasumi Saki, 14 mins), Hirukawa Mio (Matsushita Norimi, 68 mins), Sato Mariko (Taniguchi Emi, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Maruyama Kimi
Scorers: Miyagawa Tomoko (27 mins)
Booked: Inoue Yurie


Bunnys Kyoto SC  1 - 1  Nojima Stella Kanagawa
(Attendance: 120)

Nojima Stella Kanagawa were expected to run out winners away to Bunnys Kyoto today, but their plans were thrown into disarray with the sending off of goalkeeper Kobayashi Shiori in the 56th minute. Five minutes later Bunnys took the lead, their top scorer Kushige Aoi with her sixth of the season. Nojima made five substitutions in the second half and eventually found an equaliser, the tall Terada heading on to Kanai Nanae to strike home. Bunnys remain in twelfth, though are now definitely safe for another season. Nojima move ahead of Setagaya into third on goal difference. They next take on Ehime; Bunnys are up against Sayama.

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Konno Mai, Saito Natsumi, Saito Hitomi, Nakamura Miki, Akiyama Ryo, Kameoka Natsumi, Yamada Maho, Sawada Yuka, Kushige Aoi, Toyoda Nayuha (capt), Hanazaki Rena
Subs: Tanihara Yukari (Hanazaki Rena, 64 mins), Yoshino Yuka (Akiyama Ryo, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Iwasa Megumi, Yamashita Yu
Scorers: Kushige Aoi (61 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: Nanjo Masayo (Inoue Yurie, 57 mins), Yamane Hikari (Kawarazaki Nozomi, 59 mins), Nagasawa Madoka (Goto Maika, 59 mins), Kataoka Saki (Yoshimi Natsuki, 78 mins), Saito Haruna (Oyama Saki, 88 mins)
Scorers: Kanai Nanae (86 mins)
Sent off: Kobayashi Shiori


Hoyo Sukarabu FC  0 - 3  JFA Academy Fukushima
(Attendance: 62)

Kadoi Megumi scored twice in her first appearance for the Academy this season, as they brushed aside Hoyo Sukarabu in Beppu. Even with some of their regular players away in the US playing for Japan's Under-19 side, the Academy were far too strong for the opposition. Nakajo Yui also scored a penalty as her side move three points clear of Nagano in eighth place. Hoyo are still in with a chance of survival and all their hopes rest on beating the two sides above them. They are not likely to trouble Shizuoka Sangyo in a fortnight's time, so will be focussed on the Kagoshima match the following week. The Academy next host Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies.

Hoyo Sukarabu FC:
Umemura Minami, Suzu Arisa, Kiyosue Chihiro, Kondo Nanami, Hashimoto Emiko, Matsumoto Mei, Kinoshita Yuuna, Sato Mitsuki, Hanabusa Misa, Kugimiya Risa, Himeno Kanako (capt)
Subs: Nagamatsu Maki (Kiyosue Chihiro, 72 mins), Kusuno Kaho (Himeno Kanako, 80 mins), Katsuo Hitomi (Matsumoto Mei, 83 mins), Nakano Mizuki (Sato Mitsuki, 83 mins)
Booked: Hashimoto Emiko

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Asano Natsumi, Akimoto Haruka, Hirata Mai, Hashinuma Maho, Kitagawa Hikaru, Ibaraki Mitsuba, Ikeda Mao, Mizutani Yuki, Tachibana Yo, Nakajo Yui, Kadoi Megumi
Subs: Takahashi Fuko (Kitagawa Hikaru, 40 mins), Ueda Yuriko (Akimoto Haruka, 52 mins), Hirao Chika (Kadoi Megumi, 75 mins)
Scorers: Kadoi Megumi (2, 72 mins), Nakajo Yui (52 mins, pen)


Fukuoka J. Anclas  1 - 2  Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita
(Attendance: 276)

Fukuoka J. Anclas may have thrown away their chance of a swift return to the Nadeshiko League, as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to the resurgent Shizuoka Sangyo who have again come from behind to surprise teams above them. Their chances of promotion have almost certainly disappeared, though they will again be strong next year and will look to continue to develop young talent. Fukuoka's top scorer Tagashira Yoko headed in a Kurahara cross to give the home side a very early lead but thereafter Shizuoka gained the upper hand. On the hour mark Kanefuda Anzu equalised with just her first goal of the season and fourteen minutes later the visitors were ahead, more good buildup led to this year's revelation Nishiyama Mei firing home the winning goal. Shiuzoka Sangyo have a game in hand on the teams above them, that game is against Pleiades next Sunday and they will expect to win well. Fukuoka must now recover very well in their last five games, their first is against Kagoshima in two weeks' time and they should win handsomely.

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Shimada Megumi, Kurahara Honami, Hanada Aiko (capt), Yanagita Shiori, Ito Chisa, Doshita Misato, Ukita Kotone, Yoshizawa Ai, Fujimoto Yuki, Shibuya Yumiko, Tagashira Yoko
Subs: Hirata Hikari (Doshita Misato, 33 mins), Iimura Ami (Yoshizawa Ai, 75 mins), Lee Hae Mi (Ito Chisa, 82 mins), Nomura Haruka (Tagashira Yoko, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Jung Seul Won
Scorers: Tagashira Yoko (4 mins)

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Takahashi Miharu, Miyazaki Kaoru, Sayama Momoko (capt), Kanefuda Anzu, Nishiyama Mei, Ogata Yurika, Kubota Mitsuki, Oda Kanna, Iida Miku, Hirano Asami, Shirai Aoi
Subs: Ishida Risa (Iida Miku, HT), Okuda Mika (Shirai Aoi, HT)
Unused subs: Terada Ikumi, Kitaoka Chiaki, Atsumi Yuka
Scorers: Kanefuda Anzu (60 mins), Nishiyama Mei (74 mins)
Booked: Kanefuda Anzu