Challenge League Twenty-First Round

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School  2 - 0  Nittaidai Football Club Ladies
(Attendance: 150)

Tokiwagi Gakuen's quest for the title almost stuttered against Nittaidai in torrential rain today, before Sugihara Haruna rescued them with a 73rd minute goal. Sasaki Miwa was back for the schoolgirls while Uemura Shoko came in for the students. At kickoff there was very little rain and Nittaidai were able to repel the incessant attack on their goal. Their sole offensive tactic was to hit the ball long and hope that Uemura's speed would be enough to beat the Tokiwagi defenders. This tactic didn't work, as the home defence was far too shrewd. Entering the second half, the rain which had been quite gentle began to increase in ferocity and the pitch quickly became waterlogged. The long balls to Uemura now had no effect whatsoever and Nittaidai were forced to defend almost constantly. Just when it seemed that Tokiwagi would never get the breakthrough, in the 73rd minute a ball across the face of the goal from Sasaki found Sugihara at the far post and she couldn't miss from close range. Sugihata was again at the centre of the action a few minutes later when she was fouled just inside the box and Hirata Miki stepped up and very coolly scored from the spot to decide the contest.

Tokiwagi Gakuen stay top with a point advantage over Sayama and will win the league next weekend if they beat the JFA Academy away in Gotenba. Nittaidai are at home to near neighbours Sfida Setagaya.

Nittaidai brought Uemura Shoko into the starting lineup for only the third time this season
as they looked to recover from a poor run

As expected, Ito Miki caused chaos down the right wing,
and having cut inside, produced this fine save from Hiraide

This shot just wide of the post from Uemura (#18) was the nearest Nittaidai came to scoring

Tokiwagi Gakuen attacked relentlessly in the first half, here Ito again tries her luck

Finally, to the relief of Tokiwagi Gakuen's players and supporters, the opening goal.
Sasaki Miwa's ball across the face of the goal was met by Sugihara Haruna at the far post

Hirata Miki very calmly scores Tokiwagi Gakuen's second,
a penalty kick following a clumsy foul on Sugihara

Sugihara produced another fine save from Hiraide towards the end of the game

The heavy rain made conditions extremely difficult,
with Nittaidai's long balls to Uemura entirely ineffective

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Fukumura Kanae, Kawasaki Saya, Kakinoki Runa, Hirata Miki, Okakura Mika (capt), Nishikawa Ayaka, Ichise Nana, Mitamura Momoko, Ito Miki, Sasaki Miwa, Shiraki Akari
Subs: Sugihara Haruna (Mitamura Momoko, 34 mins), Yagami Yuriya (Ichise Nana, 63 mins), Komori Aoi (Sasaki Miwa, 73 mins), Hirakuni Mizuki (Sugihara Haruna, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Matsukubo Akari
Scorers: Sugihara Haruna (73 mins), Hirata Miki (79 mins, pen)

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Hiraide Haruka, Maeda Risa, Nakayama Ayaka, Yamaguchi Minami (capt), Fujisawa Marin, Ito Riho, Ito Yukina, Kitano Rie, Fuse Kanako, Kikuchi Kana, Uemura Shoko
Subs: Goto Ami (Fuse Kanako, 52 mins), Abe Rie (Kikuchi Kana, 75 mins)
Booked: Ito Riho, Uemura Shoko


Ehime FC Ladies  3 - 2  JFA Academy Fukushima
(Attendance: 230)

The JFA Academy conceded more than twice for just the second time this season, as Ehime enjoy a late season flourish which may yet result in a top-eight finish. Ogawa Manami followed up on her unlikely headed goal last week with the opener today, finishing off following confusion in the box in the sixth minute. Tachibana Yo, who also scored last weekend, scored the equaliser nine minutes later. Ehime's veteran Nakada Maiko found the net at the other end five mintes later to restore Ehime's lead, her tenth of another fine season. Just six minutes later they had a third, Kawamura Akari scoring her first goal of the season. Still the madness hadn't abated, as Kojima Miku powered home her thirteenth of the season and fifth in the last four games. All of these goals came within the first twenty-nine minutes, and there the scoring ended. Ehime held on to move level on points with Nittaidai with a chance of overtaking them with a final match away to Shizuoka Sangyo to come, while the JFA Academy are now guaranteed to finish seventh regardless of their result against Tokiwagi Gakuen.

Ehime FC Ladies:
Osako Hanako, Kushiyama Saki, Onoyama Nana, Sato Hiromi, Nishimura Nozomi, Yamashiro Miyuki, Ogawa Manami, Nakada Maiko, Kawamura Akari, Nishigawa Sayumi, Akune Mana
Subs: Kuzuma Riyo (Nakada Maiko, 76 mins), Ono Miyuu (Kawamura Akari, 82 mins), Yamada Maya (Ogawa Manami, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Mukaidani Ayaka, Arakawa Tomoe
Scorers: Ogawa Manami (6 mins), Nakada Maiko (20 mins), Kawamura Akari (26 mins)

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Inoue Nene, Okuma Rana, Hashinuma Maho, Norimatsu Ruka, Nakajo Yui, Moriya Miyabi, Hirata Mai, Mizutani Yuki, Kitagawa Hikaru, Tachibana Yo, Kojima Miku
Subs: Hirao Chika (Inoue Nene, HT), Kadoi Megumi (Okuma Rana, 74 mins), Ueda Yuriko (Tachibana Yo, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Takahashi Fuko, Ibaraki Mitsuba
Scorers: Tachibana Yo (15 mins), Kojima Miku (29 mins)


Sfida Setagaya FC  1 - 3  AS Elfen Sayama FC
(Attendance: 843)

Ten months after they were relegated from the Nadeshiko League AS Elfen Sayama FC have made it back to the top division with a stronger squad than that with which they were relegated. Their two top scorers, Arakawa Eriko and Ito Kanako, with twenty and twenty-one goals respectively, both having joined from top level teams in the off-season. Arakawa's opening goal in the 13th minute was swiftly equalised by the Challenge League's top scorer Mori Hitomi. In the second half Sayama stepped up the pressure and created far more than their hosts, who still harboured hopes of overtaking Sayama in the race for automatic promotion. With nineteen minutes remaining, Ito got herself on the scoresheet, with Arakawa supplying. Setagaya had no answer, and one of last season's star players, Azami Rie, finished the game off with a third goal eight minutes from time.

Sayama, then, return to the Nadeshiko League with a game to spare, a home match against Fukuoka J. Anclas. Setagaya look likely to make the playoff spot with a two goal lead over Nojima Stella Kanagawa leading into the remainder of the match between the sides on Wednesday evening. Their final game is away to nearby Nittaidai, who have struggled tremendously in their last four games.

Sfida Setagaya FC:
Kawaguchi Mana, Fukuhara Nao, Tanaka Marina (capt), Usui Rie, Nagata Maya, Mori Hitomi, Tomiyama Hitomi, Shimojo Aya, Nagasawa Yume, Nagasaki Akane, Usuda Haruka
Subs: Oshima Sayuri (Nagasaki Akane, 57 mins), Hori Yoshie (Shimojo Aya, 66 mins), Kuwahara Yoshie (Usuda Haruka, 69 mins), Okada Ayame (Tomiyama Hitomi, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Osaki Aimi
Scorers: Mori Hitomi (18 mins)
Booked: Nagata Maya

AS Elfen Sayama FC:
Yamago Nozomi (capt), Azami Rie, Yajima Yuki, Takahashi Yuko, Kiyohara Yuko, Hagiwara Aimi, Ito Kanako, Ohno Shinobu, Saito Yuri, Arakawa Eriko, Nara Misaki
Subs: Suzuki Kaoruko (Nara Misaki, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Kobayashi Maiko, Utsumi Yui, Akitaya Misato, Otani Erina
Scorers: Arakawa Eriko (13 mins), Ito Kanako (71 mins), Azami Rie (82 mins)


Hoyo Sukarabu FC  1 - 2  Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades
(Attendance: 62)

A lively game in Saiki saw Hoyo Sukarabu succumb to the inevitable, as their twentieth loss of the season sees them condemned to a relegation playoff following a miserable first season in the Challenge League. The victors are safe, with a vastly superior goal difference over Kagoshima below them, they can afford to lose to Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies and still retain their league status. The visitors took the lead in the eighth minute through Matsushita Norimi, but Hoyo fought back and scored an equaliser with just their fifth goal of the season. It came from the player whose goal won promotion last season, Kiyosue Chihiro. Hoyo's hopes were short-lived, as Pleiades found the net just four minutes later, captain Kanashiro Wakana with her second goal in as many games. Relief then, for the away side at the final whistle, with nothing but despair for the losers, as their chances of staying in the league seem slim. The sides seeking promotion have yet to be determined, but there does appear to be the quality in the regional leagues to see off Hoyo. Their final game is away to Nojima Stella Kanagawa.

Hoyo Sukarabu FC:
Umemura Minami, Kinoshita Yuuna, Wada Mari, Kondo Nanami, Hashimoto Emiko, Matsumoto Mei, Kiyosue Chihiro, Sato Mitsuki, Kugimiya Risa, Suzu Arisa, Himeno Kanako (capt)
Unused subs: Katsuo Hitomi, Nagamatsu Maki, Hanabusa Misa, Nakano Mizuki, Kusuno Kaho
Scorers: Kiyosue Chihiro (27 mins)
Booked: Kugimiya Risa

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
Unused subs: Maruyama Kimi, Inoue Yurie, Hirukawa Mio, Suwabe Wakana, Sato Mariko
Scorers: Matsushita Norimi (8 mins), Kanashiro Wakana (31 mins)


Fukuoka J. Anclas  0 - 2  Nojima Stella Kanagawa
(Attendance: 953)

Fukuoka attracted their largest crowd of the season as they hoped to stay in touch with Sfida Setagaya with just two games remaining. With Setagaya having lost to the now promoted AS Elfen Sayama, a home win would give Fukuoka a one point lead. The home crowd's enthusiasm however, did not translate into quality on the pitch and Fukuoka were thoroughly dominated by the visitors, who took the game to their hosts. The goals didn't arrive until late in the match, the towering Terada Reiko heading in a Yoshida free kick with eleven minutes remaining, with substitute Saito Haruna intercepting a pass and scoring herself on ninety minutes.

Nojima Stella Kanagawa now play on Wednesday, completing their match against Setagaya which was called off just after half-time. They trail by two goals to nil. Their final match is against bottom side Hoyo Sukarabu and they will feel extremely confident of a win. Fukuoka will be eliminated if Setagaya win on Wednesday. Their final match is against Sayama and they may be only playing for pride.

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Shimada Megumi, Kurahara Honami, Yanagita Shiori, Hanada Aiko (capt), Ito Chisa, Doshita Misato, Ukita Kotone, Iimura Ami, Yoshizawa Ai, Shibuya Yumiko, Fujimoto Yuki
Subs: Hirata Hikari (Ukita Kotone, 28 mins), Tagashira Yoko (Yoshizawa Ai, 61 mins)
Unused subs: Jung Seul Won, Lee Hae Mi, Nomura Haruka
Booked: Yanagita Shiori

Nojima Stella Kanagawa:
Nanjo Masayo, Terada Reiko, Yoshida Ayaka, Sakamoto Juri, Goto Maika, Yoshimi Natsuki, Oyama Saki (capt), Kinjo Airi, Inoue Yurie, Kanai Nanae, Kawarazaki Nozomi
Subs: Nagasawa Madoka (Kawarazaki Nozomi, 59 mins), Saito Haruna (Inoue Yurie, 72 mins), Kataoka Saki (Kinjo Airi, 89 mins), Yamane Hikari (Oyama Saki, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Kobayashi Shiori
Scorers: Terada Reiko (79 mins), Saito Haruna (90 mins)


The game between Bunnys Kyoto SC and Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita was postponed due to a typhoon.