Nadeshiko League Twelfth Round

INAC Kobe Leonessa  1 - 2  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 4,145)

With INAC Kobe Leonessa so far ahead of the competition, the only question regarding their retention of the title this season would be whether they could finish with a 100% record; just as in 2012, it was Belle who have put an end to that dream, and in the most emphatic manner, with the champions losing their first league match since October 11th, 2010. Miyama Aya was unsurprisingly the Belle heroine. With a marvellous shot she gave her side the lead on 32 minutes, though this was quickly replied to by the league's top scorer, Beverly Goebel-Yanez. Belle's heads didn't drop at this, as happens to most sides, and instead they pushed on for another goal. Just after the hour mark, Matsuoka Miki was tripped in the box by Kaihori Ayumi, for which she was booked, and up stepped penalty kick specialist Miyama to fire powerfully past her international teammate.

Although INAC Kobe did push hard for an equaliser, Belle were more than a match for them, and finished the game on the attack, pinning their illustrious opponents back into their own half. With this win Belle continue their upward trajectory, while for INAC Kobe this defeat will only prolong the title-winning celebrations.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Miyake Shiori, Rebecca Moros, Ji So Yun, Sawa Homare, Nakajima Emi, Kawasumi Nahomi (capt), Beverly Goebel-Yanez, Kyokawa Mai
Subs: Takase Megumi (Kyokawa Mai, 66 mins), Minamiyama Chiaki (Rebecca Moros, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Isokane Midori, Tanaka Yoko
Scorers: Beverly Goebel-Yanez (35 mins)
Booked: Kaihori Ayumi

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: Nakagawa Chihiro (Yokoyama Kumi, HT), Yamaguchi Mami (Nakagawa Chihiro, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Ikegaya Natsumi, Sakai Nozomi, Fushiki Kaho
Scorers: Miyama Aya (35, 62 mins, pen)


NTV Beleza  1 - 1  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 1,131)

Sudo Akiko came back into the Beleza starting lineup

For Urawa, Sakamoto Riho returned to the starting eleven

Soyama Kanako is beaten by a wonderful shot from Goto Michi

Hara and Kishikawa challenge for the ball

Shibata Hanae takes on the experienced Beleza defence

Wada Naoko restricted Beleza's attacks down the left wing

A reasonable crowd turned up in Morioka to see local favourite Iwashimizu Azusa captain NTV Beleza against the well-supported Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies. Beleza looked to bounce back from a very disappointing loss to Iga, while Urawa were looking to build on their victory over Belle as they continue to fight the threat of relegation. For Beleza the veteran Sudo Akiko replaced young Doko Mayo in defence, with Urawa likewise making a chance at the back, Sakamoto Riho regaining her starting place ahead of Saito Akane.

In a game of very few chances, Urawa scored first, Goto Michi with just her second of the season from outside the box. Neither side looked convincing in the final third, and the suspicion even in the early stages was that a single goal could win the game. With 31 minutes remaining Tanaka Mina came on as a substitute, as she has done in the previous three games, which created worry in the Urawa defence. Eventually, with Beleza playing better than they had all game, Sakaguchi Mizuho popped up to score with a very powerful header from a corner kick. Beleza had the better of the game thereafter, with Urawa making three late substitutions to bolster the defence.

A point each was the result, with Beleza not doing enough to trouble INAC Kobe despite their loss, and Urawa still not clear of FC Kibikokusaidaigaku in ninth, with a crucial meeting between the two to come next Sunday.


NTV Beleza:
Soyama Kanako, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Sudo Akiko, Ariyoshi Saori, Sumida Rin, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Momiki Yuka, Hasegawa Yui, Kiryu Nanase
Subs: Tanaka Mina (Hara Natsuko, 59 mins)
Unused subs: Mochizuki Arisa, Doko Mayo, Nakasato Yu, Takahashi Saori
Scorers: Sakaguchi Mizuho (78 mins)
Booked: Iwashimizu Azusa

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Sakamoto Riho, Kohata Shiho, Dozono Ayano, Wada Naoko, Kishikawa Natsuki, Fujita Nozomi, Shibata Hanae, Kato Chika, Kira Chinatsu, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Yasuda Yuki (Kira Chinatsu, 85 mins), Naomoto Hikaru (Shibata Hanae, 89 mins), Saito Akane (Goto Michi, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Tajiri Yumi, Kurishima Akari
Scorers: Goto Michi (27 mins)


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  0 - 1  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 1,105)

Takatsuki were once again beaten, and once again had very little to show for their efforts. Nakade Hikari was the Iga heroine again, as they enjoy their third successive win. Takatsuki stay on just three points, and with FC Kibikokusaidaigaku's win over Niigata today, their chances of survival grow even more remote. The Kunoichi continue to impress and will be looking forward to their chance of upsetting INAC Kobe next weekend.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Suzuki Risa, Hatanaka Miyuka, Okuda Akiko (capt), Sato Kaede, Hamada Haruka, Torao Naomi, Itami Emi, Asano Miki, Tsuboi Ayako, Narumiya Yui, Hazuki Yuki
Subs: Maruyama Karina (Hazuki Yuki, 55 mins), Hirano Satoko (Torao Naomi, 83 mins), Honda Saki (Narumiya Yui, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Ono Maya, Seesraum Naphat
Booked: Hazuki Yuki

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Miyasako Tamami, Michikura Hiroko, Ohashi Mio, Yamaguchi Ayako, Nasu Maiko (capt), Matsunaga Tomoe, Kobayashi Makiko, Tsutsumi Saki, Matsunaga Yoshie, Nakade Hikari
Subs: Noichi Aya (Tsutsumi Saki, 65 mins), Haji Madoka (Matsunaga Yoshie, 77 mins), Sonomura Nana (Kobayashi Makiko, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Ono Suzuka
Scorers: Nakade Hikari (53 mins)


FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme  3 - 1  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 503)

A huge win for FC Kibi as they move six points clear of Takatsuki at the bottom, and are now level with Urawa on nine points, whom they visit next weekend in high spirits. Kibi's top scorer, first year student Hamamoto Marin, opened the scoring in the ninth minute following fine work by Sugita Ami in midfield and a pinpoint cross from Nishikawa Asuka. Niigata responded five minutes later, Oishi Sayaka scoring just her second of the season. Kibi came out for the second half full of determination and from a kick out from Niigata goalkeeper Koganemaru Sachie, Yoshida Mayu hit the ball back first time towards goal, with Nishikawa Asuka quickest to respond to this unexpected through ball, scoring with composure into the net. Kibi pushed on again, and four minutes later it was Sugita Ami who scored the decisive third, her first in the league this season. Niigata looked for a way back into the game, but their shots were wayward on every occasion.

Niigata have thus lost all three games since the restart of the season, with Kibi now catching up having gained four points from their last two games. Niigata have difficult fixtures ahead of them against Vegalta Sendai and Urawa and will need to pick up points if their position is to be maintained.

FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme:
Isashi Kaede, Takeda Arisa, Takahashi Chiho, Imanishi Azusa, Yoshitake Manami, Shigemasa Kai, Takano Saki, Sugita Ami, Hamamoto Marin, Kanbara Misaki, Nishikawa Asuka
Subs: Yoshida Mayu (Kanbara Misaki, HT), Adachi Eriko (Nishikawa Asuka, 56 mins), Kurakazu Shiho (Yoshida Mayu, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Morimoto Kiyo, Kadota Rui
Scorers: Hamamoto Marin (9 mins), Nishikawa Asuka (46 mins), Sugita Ami (50 mins)
Booked: Takahashi Chiho

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Koganemaru Sachie, Yamamoto Arina, Takamura Chisato, Nakamura Kaede, Obara Yuria, Kodama Keiko, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Saito Yuri, Saeki Aya, Yamazaki Marumi, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Sakaguchi Moeno (Oishi Sayaka, 74 mins), Hirai Sakina (Yamazaki Marumi, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Ichitani Tomoko, Shimokawa Saori, Kubota Mayu
Scorers: Oishi Sayaka (14 mins)


Vegalta Sendai Ladies  1 - 0  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 3,109)

A top-three finish is still on the cards for Vegalta Sendai as they claimed all three points in Kakuda today, with Uetsuji Yumi scoring her second goal of the season. On this occasion the set-piece specialist scored directly from a corner kick with Yamane Erina, the tallest player in the league, unable to cope with the pace and swerve on the ball.

JEF United have conceded very few goals this season, but have also scored very few, and never looked likely to equalise. They next play at home to bottom side Takatsuki expecting a better result; Vegalta travel west to Niigata.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Amano Misaki, Yamamoto Risa, Takahashi Nana, Osafune Kana, Takara Ryoko, Tahara Nozomi, Sasaki Mayu, Uetsuji Yumi (capt), Ideue Asako, Inoue Ayaka, Yasumoto Sawako
Subs: Sameshima Aya (Ideue Asako, 65 mins), Ono Hitomi (Tahara Nozomi, 66 mins), Nakamura Mami (Yasumoto Sawako, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Saita Yuki, Kawashima Haruna
Scorers: Uetsuji Yumi (77 mins)
Booked: Yamamoto Risa

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Ueno Saki, Takahashi Sachie, Ogawa Shiho, Chino Shoko, Ikadai Risa, Hosaka Nodoka, Yanai Rina, Kawamura Mari, Fukasawa Risa (capt), Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kawamura Yuri (Sugasawa Yuika, HT), Anzai Yuka (Kawamura Mari, 62 mins), Hosokawa Motoyo (Hosaka Nodoka, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Funada Mayu, Sakuramoto Naoko