Challenge League Twentieth Round

AS Elfen Sayama FC  3 - 1  Tokiwagi Gakuen High School
(Attendance: 711)

AS Elfen Sayama took a huge step towards regaining their Nadeshiko League status following a decisive win over division leaders Tokiwagi Gakuen High School. Two goals in the first half set Sayama on their way, Saito Yuri with the first and Ito Kanako with the second, Ito scoring her twentieth of the season to lead her team in scoring this season. Ito Miki pulled one back for Tokiwagi in the second half to give the visitors hope of taking the title, but substitute Suzuki Kaoruko scored the winner in the 70th minute to put Sayama eight points clear of Setagaya in third. Tokiwagi stay top by one point and will still feel confident of winning the title. They next play Nittaidai at home, with Sayama travelling to Setagaya knowing that a draw would be enough to gain promotion.

AS Elfen Sayama FC:
Yamago Nozomi (capt), Kiyohara Yuko, Yajima Yuki, Takahashi Yuko, Azami Rie, Ito Kanako, Hagiwara Aimi, Ohno Shinobu, Saito Yuri, Arakawa Eriko, Nara Misaki
Subs: Suzuki Kaoruko (Nara Misaki, 64 mins)
Unused subs: Kobayashi Maiko, Utsumi Yui, Akitaya Misato, Segi Aiki
Scorers: Saito Yuri (16 mins), Ito Kanako (34 mins), Suzuki Kaoruko (70 mins)

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Fukumura Kanae, Kawasaki Saya, Kakinoki Runa, Hirata Miki, Okakura Mika (capt), Nishikawa Ayaka, Ichise Nana, Shiraki Akari, Ito Miki, Kobayashi Rikako, Sugihara Haruna
Subs: Yagami Yuriya (Sugihara Haruna, 40 mins)
Unused subs: Okada Mari, Matsukubo Akari, Hirakuni Mizuki, Komori Aoi
Scorers: Ito Miki (57 mins)


Japan Soccer College Ladies  2 - 0  Hoyo Sukarabu FC
(Attendance: 86)

Last season's bottom side the JSCL improved immesurably this season, while in contrast this season's bottom side Hoyo Sukarabu look more and more likely to be relegated, regardless of whom they face in a play-off. It took some time for the JSCL to get the breakthrough though, as Hoyo dug in looking for a scoreless draw. With seven minutes remaining Sasaki Shiori scored from a free kick to give the home side relief, with top scorer Toriumi Mai adding a decisive second in additional time. Toriumi has now equalled her 2012 record of eleven goals, and is determined that in her side's final game against Nagano that she will reach at least twelve. Hoyo now need to beat Pleiades in their next game. Failure to do so means a relegation play-off. A win will take them out of the relegation zone, with goal difference likely to come into play after the final game in such a scenario. However, with such poor form this year, and only four goals having been scored, the most likely outcome is a bottom-placed finish.

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Kawashima Kana, Takahashi Sakura, Kusakari Ayako (capt), Kato Yoshimi, Otomo Chinatsu, Tadano Yuki, Sasaki Shiori, Sakaguchi Yuki, Niiho Madoka, Toriumi Mai, Nakashima Ayaka
Subs: Sanada Kasumi (Otomo Chinatsu, HT), Iwasaki Manami (Niiho Madoka, 63 mins), Sano Saki (Tadano Yuki, 82 mins), Sengoku Raimu (Nakashima Ayaka, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Fukada Ayami
Scorers: Sasaki Shiori (83 mins), Toriumi Mai (90+2 mins)

Hoyo Sukarabu FC:
Umemura Minami, Suzu Arisa, Wada Mari, Kondo Nanami, Hashimoto Emiko, Matsumoto Mei, Kiyosue Chihiro, Sato Mitsuki, Hanabusa Misa, Kugimiya Risa, Himeno Kanako (capt)
Subs: Kinoshita Yuuna (Hanabusa Misa, HT)
Unused subs: Katsuo Hitomi, Nagamatsu Maki, Kusuno Kaho


JFA Academy Fukushima  2 - 2  Bunnys Kyoto SC
(Attendance: 121)

Bunnys Kyoto have improved in the latter half of the season, and a late goal today rescued a point against the JFA Academy. For the Academy Tachibana scored just before half-time, with Kojima Miku scoring another with nine minutes remaining. Toyoda had equalied for Bunnys just after the hour mark, and it took a last gasp effort from substitute Yoshino Yuka to save the game. Bunnys have now lost just once in their last seven games, and look forward to the challenge from Shizuoka Sangyo next week. The JFA Academy travel to Ehime.

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Hirao Chika, Okuma Rana, Hashinuma Maho, Norimatsu Ruka, Nakajo Yui, Moriya Miyabi, Hirata Mai, Mizutani Yuki, Kitagawa Hikaru, Tachibana Yo, Kojima Miku (capt)
Subs: Ikeda Mao (Hirata Mai, 64 mins), Ibaraki Mitsuba (Kitagawa Hikaru, 90+4 mins)
Unused subs: Asano Natsumi, Takahashi Fuko, Akimoto Haruka
Scorers: Tachibana Yo (44 mins), Kojima Miku (81 mins)

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Konno Mai, Saito Natsumi, Saito Hitomi, Nakamura Miki, Yu Ji Eun, Kameoka Natsumi, Yamada Maho, Sawada Yuka, Kushige Aoi, Toyoda Nayuha (capt), Akiyama Ryo
Subs: Hanazaki Rena (Saito Natsumi, HT), Yoshino Yuka (Yu Ji Eun, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Iwasa Megumi, Yamashita Yu, Tanihara Yukari
Scorers: Toyoda Nayuha (61 mins), Yoshino Yuka (90 mins)


Je Vrille Kagoshima  0 - 5  Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies
(Attendance: 213)

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies tore Kagoshima apart today to leave the hosts in desperate trouble at the bottom. Matsubara Shiho has had a marvellous season for Cerezo, and her hat-trick combined with a first goal of the season for Tamazakura, and a seventh for Nishida, gave the visitors their biggest win of the season. They will finish in thirteenth place in their maiden campaign, well ahead of the bottom three and have a platform now for next season to improve. Their final game is on the final day against Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades, who will be hoping the schoolgirls have an off-day. Kagoshima also next play on the final day. Their opposition is Bunnys, and their only hope realistically is for a win coupled with a draw between the other two sides around them a week earlier.

Je Vrille Kagoshima:
Nakagawa Yoshimi, Hirata Misato, Fukata Rena, Sakamoto Ayaka, Murai Kaori, Yamada Kaori, Imanaka Yuri, Mitsudome Kanami, Saito Toshiko, Sannomiya Shiki (capt), Oh Yu Sun
Subs: Konishi Momoka (Mitsudome Kanami, 43 mins), Fukuishi Konan (Hirata Misato, 64 mins), Kim So Young (Oh Yu Sun, 90+2 mins), Sakamoto Kanna (Fukata Rena, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Kawai Minami

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies:
Fukunaga Erika (capt), Matsubara Yuna, Shima Ayana, Azuma Manami, Morinaka Hina, Matsubara Shiho, Inoue Hina, Hayashi Honoka, Maegawa Miki, Yakaya Miyu, Tanaka Mika
Subs: Nishida Meika (Nojima Sakura, 56 mins), Tamazakura Kotono (Tanaka Mika, 56 mins), Furusawa Rui (Yakata Miyu, 80 mins), Hashimitsu Kyoka (Matsubara Shiho, 81 mins), Shiba Hiyori (Fukunaga Erika, 87 mins)
Scorers: Matsubara Shiho (39, 58, 77 mins), Tamazakura Kotono (85 mins), Nishida Meika (86 mins)


Nittaidai Football Club Ladies  2 - 3  Ehime FC Ladies
(Attendance: 46)

Nittaidai once again sent their best players to play in the Kanto Universities' League, and once again lost against a side they would normally expect to beat. They had good news in Kitano Rie's scoring of two goals, the second from the spot, but Ehime showed good form and tenacity in coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2, to give themselves much-needed confidence. Ogawa Manami, the smallest player on the pitch, headed in a goal following a Nishigawa corner to make the score 2-1 at half-time, and it was Nishigawa herself who scored twice in the second half to take all three points back to Ehime. They take on the JFA Academy at home on Sunday; Nittaidai will have it tough away to Tokiwagi on the same day.

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Yamamoto Arisa, Maeda Risa, Nakayama Ayaka, Yamaguchi Minami (capt), Yamamoto Hirona, Ito Riho, Kitano Rie, Ito Yukina, Fujisawa Marin, Goto Ami, Kikuchi Kana
Unused subs: Hiraide Haruka, Uchida Misuzu
Scorers: Kitano Rie (10 (pen), 35 mins)

Ehime FC Ladies:
Osako Hanako, Kushiyama Saki, Onoyama Nana, Mukaidani Ayaka, Nishimura Nozomi, Yamashiro Miyuki, Akune Mana, Ogawa Manami, Kawamura Akari, Nishigawa Sayumi, Nakada Maiko
Subs: Ono Miyuu (Kawamura Akari, 58 mins), Kuzuma Riyo (Ogawa Manami, 81 mins), Yamada Maya (Nakada Maiko, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Sato Hiromi, Senba Yuna
Scorers: Ogawa Manami (37 mins), Nishigawa Sayumi (66, 87 mins)


Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades  2 - 4  Fukuoka J. Anclas
(Attendance: 78)

Pleiades' smallest crowd of the season saw them take an unlikely 2-1 lead over Fukuoka J. Anclas, with the visitors taking the lead in the very first minute through Lee Hae Mi, making a rare starting appearance. Pleiades struck back through Kanashiro from the spot, and top scorer Hamanaka followed up on a mistake from Jung Seul Won in the Anclas goal to give the home side hope of an upset. It was not to be. Anclas had the equaliser before half-time through Ito Chisa, heading in a Doshita free kick for her first of the season. In the second half Anclas restricted Pleiades' attack to the extent that they neither had a shot on goal nor any corner kicks. Fujimoto Yuki added two goals in the final thirty minutes to give the visitors all three points as they chase Sfida Setagaya for the promotion play-off place, with the chance of automatic promotion now gone. They next play Nojima Stella Kanagawa on Monday, with Pleiades taking on Hoyo Sukarabu the previous day in a game which may decide who stays up this season.

Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades:
Sato Masami, Kobayashi Natsumi, Taniguchi Emi, Kawachi Erika, Oda Sayaka, Miyagawa Tomoko, Kanashiro Wakana (capt), Matsushita Norimi, Miura Kyoko, Hamanaka Saki, Kawasumi Saki
Subs: Hirukawa Mio (Kawachi Erika, 68 mins)
Unused subs: Maruyama Kimi, Inoue Yurie, Suwabe Wakana, Sato Mariko
Scorers: Kanashiro Wakana (16 mins, pen), Hamanaka Saki (26 mins)
Booked: Oda Sayaka

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Jung Seul Won, Iimura Ami, Hanada Aiko (capt), Ito Chisa, Kurahara Honami, Doshita Misato, Ukita Kotone, Lee Hae Mi, Yoshizawa Ai, Shibuya Yumiko, Fujimoto Yuki
Subs: Nomura Haruka (Lee Hae Mi, 54 mins), Shimada Megumi (Jung Seul Won, 83 mins), Yanagita Shiori (Iimura Ami, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Tagashira Yoko
Scorers: Lee Hae Mi (1 mins), Ito Chisa (38 mins), Fujimoto Yuki (61, 80 mins)
Booked: Doshita Misato


Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita  4 - 1  AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies
(Attendance: 208)

Shizuoka Sangyo's top scorer of 2012 Oda Kanna has had a quiet season but showed her quality today with a first half hat-trick as the home side overpowered Nagano, who had taken the early lead through an own goal. Nagano were thoroughly dominated and even without regular starting captain Sayama Momoko, Shizuoka Sangyo were never under threat. Okuda Mika scored her fifth of the season in additional time at the end of the game. Nagano next play on the final day against the JSCL; Shizuoka Sangyo take on Bunnys next Monday.

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Takahashi Miharu, Miyazaki Kaoru, Nishiyama Mei (capt), Kanefuda Anzu, Suzuki Rina, Ogata Yurika, Kubota Mitsuki, Shimamura Kumiko, Ishida Risa, Hirano Asami, Oda Kanna
Subs: Okuda Mika (Shimamura Kumiko, 56 mins), Shirai Aoi (Hirano Asami, 63 mins), Iida Miku (Suzuki Rina, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Terada Ikumi, Takahata Airi
Scorers: Oda Kanna (11, 18, 31 mins), Okuda Mika (90+2 mins)
Booked: Oda Kanna

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Matsumoto Azumi, Shinohara Shihoko, Tanaka Nami (capt), Hatano Saki, Komatsu Misato, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Yoshida Aoi, Takagi Nao, Uchiyama Tomoka, Urasaki Yuka, Aoshima Miyabi
Subs: Yamashita Mayumi (Komatsu Misato, 72 mins), Sato Kaede (Urasaki Yuka, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Unoki Mao, Kukita Yuko, Sayama Marina
Scorers: Own Goal (7 mins)


The match between Nojima Stella Kanagawa and Sfida Setagaya FC was called off in the second half due to heavy rain and an unplayable pitch. The score at the time was 2-0 to Sfida Setagaya FC.