Nadeshiko League Fifteenth Round

INAC Kobe Leonessa  2 - 1  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 3,418)

Urawa took the lead against the champions, with Kira Chinatsu scoring following a mistake by Shimizu Akane in the INAC defence, the defender making just her second appearance this season. INAC are made of stern stuff and at no stage was there a feeling that they wouldn't get back into the game. Two goals in two minutes turned the game around completely, with the league's top scorer Beverly Goebel-Yanez pouncing on the ball to equalise, and last season's top scorer Takase Megumi heading in Kawasumi's cross from a tight angle. Thereafter Urawa had very few chances to score, and at the other end INAC had chances but didn't over-exert themselves in search of a larger winning margin. INAC Kobe travel to Tokyo to take on Beleza next weekend, with the gap between the sides now considerable; Urawa now look safe in seventh are at home to Vegalta Sendai.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Shimizu Akane, Nakajima Emi, Ji So Yun, Sawa Homare, Minamiyama Chiaki, Kawasumi Nahomi (capt), Beverly Goebel-Yanez, Takase Megumi
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Isokane Midori, Watanabe Ayaka, Tanaka Yoko, Kyokawa Mai
Scorers: Beverly Goebel-Yanez (20 mins), Takase Megumi (21 mins)

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Wada Naoko, Kohata Shiho, Dozono Ayano, Sakamoto Riho, Shibata Hanae, Kishikawa Natsuki, Fujita Nozomi, Kato Chika, Kira Chinatsu, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Saito Akane (Kira Chinatsu, 79 mins), Otaki Ami (Fujita Nozomi, 79 mins), Yasuda Yuki (Kato Chika, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Tajiri Yumi, Ishii Saki
Scorers: Kira Chinatsu (3 mins)


Albirex Niigata Ladies  0 - 2  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 512)

Niigata were hoping to pull themselves clear of Kibi in ninth against Okayama Yunogo Belle, but their visitors' qualities were too much for the home side, who have now picked up only one point from the last six games. Belle have seen a huge resurgence in the second half of the season, with their loss to Urawa the only disappointment. Miyama Aya was again instrumental in midfield, and the opening goal in the 68th minute came from her free kick, with Nakano scoring just her second of the season. Niigata tried to fight back but the game was decided in Belle's favour when Miyazaki Yuka scored her second headed goal of the season with just two minutes remaining. Belle remain in the hunt for a second-place finish, and are currently level on points with Iga. Niigata next play Takatsuki and know that a victory is essential to ease their relegation worries.

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Ichitani Tomoko, Takamura Chisato, Kitahara Kana, Nakamura Kaede, Obara Yuria, Kodama Keiko, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Saito Yuri, Saeki Aya, Yamazaki Marumi, Tiffany McCarty
Subs: Hirai Sakina (Takamura Chisato, 55 mins), Oishi Sayaka (Saeki Aya, 70 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Sakaguchi Moeno, Shimokawa Saori

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, 57 mins), Tsuhako Yumiko (Mizushima Kumi, 65 mins)
Unused subs: Ikegaya Natsumi, Fushiki Kaho, Yamaguchi Mami
Scorers: Nakano Manami (68 mins), Miyazaki Yuka (88 mins)
Booked: Kado Yuka


FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme  0 - 1  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 567)

FC Kibi started with the same eleven which had seen off Takatsuki so effectively as they looked to pick up at least a point against the visiting Kunoichi who themselves hope for a second-place finish. Iga made one change from their defeat to INAC Kobe, Ono Suzuka returning to the side in place of Michikura Hiroko. The result was decided in the twelfth minute when Kibi graduate Nakade Hikari knocked in her fifth of the season. Iga's defence was strong as expected, and the best that Kibi could hope for was a chance from a set-piece. In the end they hadn't enough to get back into the game and Iga moved into second place in the table ahead of Beleza's visit to JEF United. Kibi now face the second of the Okayama derbies, and with Belle also determined to finish second, it would be a tremendous result for the students if they could take home a point. The Kunoichi next play JEF United at home.

FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme:
Isashi Kaede, Imanishi Azusa, Takahashi Chiho (capt), Takeda Arisa, Shigemasa Kai, Takano Saki, Sugita Ami, Yoshitake Manami, Takatsuka Ayane, Kurakazu Shiho, Nishikawa Asuka
Subs: Kanbara Misaki (Takatsuka Ayane, HT), Noma Fumika (Nishikawa Asuka, 65 mins), Adachi Eriko (Tachibana Rei, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Morimoto Kiyo, Miyake Ayumi
Booked: Shigemasa Kai, Kurakazu Shiho

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Miyasako Tamami, Ohashi Mio, Ono Suzuka, Yamaguchi Ayako, Nasu Maiko (capt), Matsunaga Tomoe, Kobayashi Makiko, Tsutsumi Saki, Matsunaga Yoshie, Nakade Hikari
Subs: Noichi Aya (Matsunaga Tomoe, HT), Haji Madoka (Matsunaga Yoshie, 77 mins), Sakaguchi Sakie (Kobayashi Makiko, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Michikura Hiroko, Miyakawa Hazuki
Scorers: Nakade Hikari (12 mins)


Vegalta Sendai Ladies  1 - 0  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 1,274)

Takatsuki have now lost nine consective Nadeshiko League games, and have failed to score in any of the last five, as they now face certain relegation. Vegalta Sendai did not play particularly well but did enough to overcome their visitors in rainy conditions. Sameshima Aya started just her second league match of the season and Sasaki Mayu returned to the defence. For Takatsuki Narumiya Yui made her fifth appearance since moving from Vegalta where she failed to find a place in the team. Hirano, Sato and Hazuki also came in for Takatsuki. Osafune Kana scored the only goal of the game, following a Uetsuji corner. In the second half, Tahara Nozomi saw her penalty kick saved by Ono Maya in the Takatsuki goal and that was to prove the highlight for the visitors. Nine points adrift, Takatsuki must now win all three of their final games and hope that either of the two teams above them lose all three of theirs. Having not won all season, this task looks well beyond their capabilities. They next play Niigata at home, while fifth-place Vegalta visit Urawa.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Amano Misaki, Yamamoto Risa, Shimokozuru Aya (capt), Osafune Kana, Sasaki Mayu, Tahara Nozomi, Takahashi Nana, Uetsuji Yumi, Takara Ryoko, Sameshima Aya, Yasumoto Sawako
Subs: Ono Hitomi (Sameshima Aya, 83 mins), Nakamura Mami (Tahara Nozomi, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Saita Yuki, Ideue Asako, Imai Sayuri
Scorers: Osafune Kana (35 mins)

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Hirano Satoko, Okuda Akiko (capt), Hatanaka Miyuka, Tsuboi Ayako, Asano Miki, Narumiya Yui, Sato Kaede, Hazuki Yuki, Maruyama Karina, Hamada Haruka
Subs: Kanjana Sung-Ngoen (Hazuki Yuki, 64 mins), Naphat Seesraum (Hamada Haruka, 68 mins), Torao Naomi (Tsuboi Ayako, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Suzuki Risa, Itami Emi
Booked: Tsuboi Ayako


JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies  0 - 1  NTV Beleza
(Attendance: 802)

Having lost two games in a row to fall to fourth before this Wednesday evening game, Beleza were in desperate need of a win to regain momentum with the visit of champions INAC Kobe to come this weekend. With several of Beleza's young players returning from action for Japan's U-19 team recently, manager Teratani Mayumi decided to bring in Kobayashi Misakai for her first appearance, with Takahashi Saori also coming in for her first start, with just one substitute appearance to date this season. Hara Natsuko also returned to the starting lineup. For JEF United, Ueno Saki returned to the starting lineup following her participation with the U-19 team, with Hosokawa Motoyo making way. Kiryu Nanase scored the only goal of the game ten minutes into the second half, her sixth vital goal of the season. JEF United have scored the fewest goals of any team with the exception of Takatsuki at the bottom and Beleza's strong defence kept their hosts at bay for the remainder of the game. With this victory Beleza leap back over Iga and Belle into second place, with JEF United now looking unlikely to achieve a final placing in the top five, with a seven point gap between themselves and Vegalta Sendai in fourth. JEF United travel to Iga in a few days' time, with Beleza at home against INAC Kobe.

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Ueno Saki, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Takahashi Sachie, Chino Shoko, Ikadai Risa, Hosaka Nodoka, Kawamura Mari, Kawamura Yuri, Fukasawa Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Anzai Yuka (Ikadai Risa, 63 mins), Ogawa Shiho (Fukasawa Risa, 82 mins), Hosokawa Motoyo (Kawamura Mari, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Kamogawa Miho, Yanai Rina

NTV Beleza:
Soyama Kanako, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Sudo Akiko, Kobayashi Misaki, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Ariyoshi Saori, Momiki Yuka, Kiryu Nanase, Takahashi Saori
Subs: Hasegawa Yui (Takahashi Saori, 67 mins), Nakasato Yu (Momiki Yuka, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Mochizuki Arisa, Yamada Shoko, Sumida Rin
Scorers: Kiryu Nanase (55 mins)