Nadeshiko League Fourteenth Round

INAC Kobe Leonessa  2 - 1  Vegalta Sendai Ladies
(Attendance: 8,169)

INAC Kobe won their third successive league championship in front of the league's largest crowd this season, with Shimizu Akane coming in for her first appearance this season in place of Miyake Shiori who is away with the U-19 national side. INAC made most of the chances but had to wait until the 64th minute to take the lead, Minamiyama Chiaki with her second in two games. Vegalta Sendai fought back, and were level ten mintes later through local favourite Ono Hitomi. INAC were not to be denied though, and just four minutes later Ji So Yun, returning to the side after a one game absence, headed in to seal the victory and the title, with four games of the season to spare. Vegalta Sendai remain in the top five, and still harbour hopes of catching Beleza in second. They next host Takatsuki, with INAC Kobe also at home, to Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Shimizu Akane, Rebecca Moros, Ji So Yun, Sawa Homare, Nakajima Emi, Kawasumi Nahomi (capt), Beverly Goebel-Yanez, Takase Megumi
Subs: Minamiyama Chiaki (Rebecca Moros, HT), Kyokawa Mai (Takase Megumi, 90+3 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Isokane Midori, Tanaka Yoko
Scorers: Minamiyama Chiaki (64 mins), Ji So Yun (78 mins)

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Amano Misaki, Yamamoto Risa, Shimokozuru Aya (capt), Osafune Kana, Takara Ryoko, Nakamura Mami, Takahashi Nana, Uetsuji Yumi, Tahara Nozomi, Kawashima Haruna, Yasumoto Sawako
Subs: Sameshima Aya (Nakamura Mami, HT), Ono Hitomi (Kawashima Haruna, HT)
Unused subs: Saita Yuki, Sasaki Mayu, Ideue Asako
Scorers: Ono Hitomi (74 mins)
Booked: Osafune Kana


Okayama Yunogo Belle  1 - 1  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 2,265)

Miyama Aya once again saved her team and it was another free kick from well outside the area which did the damage, though with the ball bouncing in front of her, Yamane really should have saved it. An own goal in the eighth minute, which had come as a result of good pressing from the JEF forwards, had given the visitors the surprise lead and they'll have been disappointed not to have picked up three valuable points.

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), Tsuhako Yumiko (Mizushima Kumi, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Ikegaya Natsumi, Sakai Nozomi, Fushiki Kaho
Scorers: Miyama Aya (90+1 mins)
Booked: Yokoyama Kumi

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Takahashi Sachie, Hosokawa Motoyo, Chino Shoko, Ikadai Risa, Hosaka Nodoka, Kawamura Mari, Kawamura Yuri, Fukasawa Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kitagawa Saki (Fukasawa Risa, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Funada Mayu, Ogawa Shiho, Anzai Yuka, Yanai Rina
Scorers: Own Goal (8 mins)


Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies  2 - 1  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 1,874)

Niigata came to Urawa with a desperate need to pick up points as they continue to struggle in the second half of the season, and their hopes were heightened when loan signing Tiffany McCarty put them ahead in the 26th minute with her first goal in Japan. Urawa have recovered well since their poor opening half of the season, and this game was no exception. Kato Chika scored just before half-time to level the game, and in the 69th minute Dozono Ayano headed in a Wada corner to give Urawa all three points - with both scorers netting their second of the season. A good win for Urawa then, that should be enough to keep them out of trouble at the bottom, with their trip to Kobe to come next week. Niigata host high-flying Belle.

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Sakamoto Riho, Kohata Shiho, Dozono Ayano, Wada Naoko, Shibata Hanae, Kishikawa Natsuki, Fujita Nozomi, Kato Chika, Kira Chinatsu, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Ishii Saki (Kira Chinatsu, 79 mins), Yasuda Yuki (Kato Chika, 88 mins), Tomari Shiho (Shibata Hanae, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Tajiri Yumi, Otaki Ami
Scorers: Kato Chika (45 mins), Dozono Ayano (69 mins)
Booked: Kira Chinatsu

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Koganemaru Sachie, Yamamoto Arina, Kitahara Kana, Nakamura Kaede, Obara Yuria, Kodama Keiko, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Saito Yuri, Saeki Aya, Yamazaki Marumi, Tiffany McCarty
Subs: Oishi Sayaka (Yamazaki Marumi, 69 mins), Hirai Sakina (Yamamoto Arina, 73 mins), Sakaguchi Moeno (Tiffany McCarty, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Ichitani Tomoko, Takamura Chisato
Scorers: Tiffany McCarty (26 mins)
Booked: Koganemaru Sachie


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  0 - 3  FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme
(Attendance: 942)

In a game which neither side could afford to lose, it was Kibi's qualities that proved decisive in the end as they came away with their first away win in the Nadeshiko League, opening a nine point gap over Takatsuki who now look certain to be playing in the Challenge League in 2014. Captain Takahashi Chiho, playing in defence since the injury to Muramatsu Mafuyu, gave Kibi the lead with a trademark headed goal from a corner. A native of Takatsuki, Takahashi was suitably delighted with her goal against her hometown side. Takatsuki had very little quality going forward and two goals in the last thirteen minutes from substitute Noma Fumika settled the match in favour of the visiting students. Takatsuki have just three points, and have very little chance of turning things around. Kibi move on to twelve points, level with Niigata but behind on goal difference and will probably need more points to survive, though their last four games are against the league's top four sides and it will prove a very difficult task.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Hatanaka Miyuka, Okuda Akiko (capt), Matsuda Nozomi, Hamada Haruka, Narumiya Yui, Itami Emi, Naphat Seesraum, Asano Miki, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Hirano Satoko (Naphat Seesraum, HT), Kanjana Sung-Ngoen (Asano Miki, HT), Hazuki Yuki (Matsuda Nozomi, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Suzuki Risa, Torao Naomi

FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme:
Isashi Kaede, Takeda Arisa, Takahashi Chiho (capt), Imanishi Azusa, Yoshitake Manami, Sugita Ami, Takano Saki, Takatsuka Ayane, Shigemasa Kai, Kurakazu Shiho, Nishikawa Asuka
Subs: Noma Fumika (Nishikawa Asuka, 60 mins), Adachi Eriko (Kurakazu Shiho, 74 mins), Miyake Ayumi (Yoshitake Manami, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Morimoto Kiyo, Kamata Ran
Scorers: Takahashi Chiho (35 mins), Noma Fumika (77, 81 mins)