Challenge League Thirteenth Round

Fukuoka J. Anclas  1 - 0  Japan Soccer College Ladies
(Attendance: 214)

This game was played on July 19th

Fukuoka leapfrogged above the JSCL with this victory, just their fifth of the season, with a late goal from Fujimoto Yuki, for whom this was her third goal this season. Fukuoka had the better of the game and deserved the win. Neither side has been impressive this year, and there still remains the possibility that either could end the season in the bottom two.

Fukuoka play Takatsuki on August 3rd, the JSCL take on the JFA Academy much later in the month, on the 31st.

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Kishi Hoshimi, Iimura Ami, Hanada Aiko, Yanagita Shiori, Fujisawa Marin, Ukita Kotone, Doshita Misato, Yoshizawa Ai, Takahashi Chizuru, Fujimoto Yuki, Marugata Rie
Subs: Doi Narumi (Takahashi Chizuru, 64 mins), Fukui Shihori (Yoshizawa Ai, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Shimada Megumi, Ito Chisa, Inoue Miku
Scorers: Fujimoto Yuki (82 mins)

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Kawashima Kana, Sano Saki, Kusakari Ayako, Takahashi Sakura, Kikuchi Ruri, Sakaguchi Yuki, Iwasaki Manami, Toriumi Mai, Nakashima Ayaka, Kudo Asami, Ishibuchi Yuki
Subs: Nomura Natsumi (Kikuchi Ruri, HT), Yoneda Saki (Ishibuchi Yuki, 73 mins)
Unused subs: Komatsu Akane, Tadano Yuki, Tsunoda Emika
Booked: Ishibuchi Yuki


Nittaidai Football Club Ladies  9 - 0  Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades
(Attendance: 64)

Shimizu's second nine-goal defeat of the season leaves them five points away from safety, as they look destined to compete to stay in the Challenge League in the end of season playoffs. Nittaidai went top overnight with this win, in which Maeda scored four goals and Hirata scored thrice, the first hat-tricks scored by either player in the league. Kojima and Sakurai were the other two scorers, and Nittaidai finished the weekend in second, two points behind leaders Takatsuki.

Nittaidai have a more challenging match next weekend against Nagano; Shimizu will be desperate for points against Bunnys who are the closest safe team above them.

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Inoue Nene, Sakurai Mayuka, Haza Hisui, Nozu Erika, Oki Shiho, Ishii Chiharu, Enokidani Misaki, Kojima Wakiko, Ito Yukina (capt), Hirata Hikari, Uemura Shoko
Subs: Maeda Risa (Uemura Shoko, 25 mins), Goto Ami (Ishii Chiharu, 56 mins), Kitano Rie (Kojima Wakiko, 72 mins), Matsuda Kasumi (Inoue Nene, 81 mins), Fuse Kanako (Ito Yukina, 81 mins)
Scorers: Kojima Wakiko (28 mins), Maeda Risa (38, 42, 52, 65 mins), Hirata Hikari (68, 85, 88 mins), Sakurai Mayuka (90+3 mins, pen)

Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades:
Maruyama Kimi, Kobayashi Natsumi, Taniguchi Emi, Kawachi Erika, Inoue Yurie, Matsushita Norimi, Kanashiro Wakana, Sato Kaede, Yamaki Kotomi, Miyagawa Tomoko, Kawasumi Saki
Subs: Oda Sayaka (Matsushita Norimi, 41 mins), Hirukawa Mio (Inoue Yurie, HT), Baba Sayumi (Kobayashi Natsumi, 69 mins), Miura Kyoko (Kawasumi Saki, 76 mins)
Booked: Baba Sayumi


Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara  3 - 1  JFA Academy Fukushima
(Attendance: 313)

Nojima brought the Academy's eight game unbeaten streak to an end with a first-half three-goal blitz, Minamino Arisa scoring twice to bring her total in this, her first season, to ten. Yoshimi Natsuki scored from the spot to bring her total to nine. Kitagawa produced a fine finish to reduce the arrears early in the second half as the rain poured down but Nojima were able to resist the Academy attack and held on for their sixth consecutive win.

Nojima next play on July 12th against Setagaya, the Academy host Fukuoka on the sixth.

Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara:
Kobayashi Shiori, Goto Maika, Terada Reiko, Yoshida Ayaka, Nagasawa Madoka, Oyama Saki (capt), Yoshimi Natsuki, Omiya Reona, Inoue Yurie, Minamino Arisa, Kanai Nanae
Subs: Kawarazaki Nozomi (Kanai Nanae, 77 mins), Kinjo Airi (Inoue Yurie, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Nanjo Masayo, Nishimura Atsumi, Saito Haruna
Scorers: Minamino Arisa (7, 34 mins), Yoshimi Natsuki (31 mins, pen)

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Asano Natsumi, Ari Hudson, Moriya Miyabi, Morita Umi, Takahira Miyu, Hirata Mai, Tachibana Yo, Mizutani Yuki (capt), Takahashi Fuko, Okuma Rana, Kitagawa Hikaru
Subs: Ikeda Mao (Takahashi Fuko, 42 mins)
Unused subs: Hannah Stambaugh, Nakajo Yui, Akimoto Haruka, Ueda Yuriko
Scorers: Kitagawa Hikaru (51 mins)


Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies  4 - 3  Tokiwagi Gakuen High School
(Attendance: 253)

Cerezo Osaka produced another superb performance to win their second consecutive game to move onto seven points, this time with a win over champions Tokiwagi Gakuen. The home side has surprised everyone by scoring on three occasions in the first sixteen minutes, Tamazakura Kotono's sixth of the season coming between the first for Hashimitsu Kyoka and Katsuoka Miyu.

Tokiwagi Gakuen came back well, and importantly scored before half-time, Kobayashi Rikako scoring off a through ball from Nishikawa Ayaka. Things got better for Tokiwagi in the second half, as first Kobayashi and then Nishikawa scored to level the score with fourteen minutes remaining. Just when it seemed that Cerezo would suffer another collapse, substitute Yakata Miyu popped up to score the winner in additional time.

Cerezo next travel to Himeji to play high-flying Harima, with Tokiwagi Gakuen hosting the other side promoted last season, Ange Violet Hiroshima.

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies:
Nishinaka Maho, Hashimitsu Kyoka, Katsuoka Miyu, Takarada Saori, Morinaka Hina, Furusawa Rui, Nishida Meika (capt), Matsubara Shiho, Hayashi Honoka, Maegawa Miki, Tamazakura Kotono
Subs: Fujiwara Nodoka (Hashimitsu Kyoka, HT), Yakata Miyu (Furusawa Rui, 67 mins), Tanaka Mika (Tamazakura Kotono, 80 mins), Wakisaka Reina (Maegawa Miki, 89 mins), Fukunaga Erika (Nishinaka Maho, 90 mins)
Scorers: Hashimitsu Kyoka (4 mins), Tamazakura Kotono (7 mins), Katsuoka Miyu (16 mins), Yakaya Miyu (90+1 mins)

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Ono Asuka, Kawasaki Saya, Fujino Suzuka, Ichise Nana, Genseki Kiyoka, Nishikawa Ayaka (capt), Sasaki Yukina, Mitsuhashi Asuka, Shiraki Akari, Sugihara Haruna, Kobayashi Rikako
Subs: Kashihara Mayu (Mitsuhashi Asuka, HT), Kadowaki Shihomi (Kashihara Mayu, 78 mins), Komori Aoi (Sugihara Haruna, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Suzuki Aguri, Kobayashi Nanako
Scorers: Kobayashi Rikako (37, 57 mins), Nishikawa Ayaka (76 mins)


Bunnys Kyoto SC  0 - 1  AS Harima Albion
(Attendance: 320)

It took 83 minutes, but Harima eventually found a way past Konno Mai in the Bunnys goal to record their sixth 1-0 win of the season as they move into the top four. Substitute Saito Manami scored the vital goal, her first of the season, and Harima will be confident of another win next week against Cerezo Osaka Sakai. Bunnys are away to Shimizu in an extremly important match at the bottom of the table.

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Konno Mai, Akamine Mizuki, Saito Hitomi (capt), Yamamoto Yumi, Akiyama Ryo, Shibuya Yumiko, Sawada Yuka, Yamashita Yu, Kawano Maaya, Matsuda Nozomi, Oshima Sayuri
Subs: Hanazaki Rena (Akiyama Ryo, 21 mins), Yamaguchi Yurie (Yamashita Yu, HT), Fuchibe Mami (Kawano Maaya, 85 mins)

AS Harima Albion:
Sugimoto Aoi, Kitagawa Wakana, Nishiyama Emi, Fujimoto Madoka (capt), Sakai Nozomi, Okajima Eri, Nakajima Chihiro, Koyano Yuu, Shirota Miki, Chiba Sonoko, Murakawa Saki
Subs: Saito Manami (Koyano Yuu, 57 mins), Momii Mika (Shirota Miki, 69 mins), Yamaguchi Saya (Okajima Eri, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Hasatani Toko, Sugiyama Yuka
Scorers: Saito Manami (83 mins)


Ange Violet Hiroshima  3 - 1  Sfida Setagaya FC
(Attendance: 843)

Ange Violet have attracted the highest Challenge League crowds this season, and today 843 witnessed another fine performance as the newcomers overcame Sfida Setagaya to leave their guests six points behind promotion rivals Nojima. An own goal from a corner kick gave the home side the lead in first half additional time, and although Setagaya equalised four minutes after the restart through Sunoki, Ange Violet weren't to be denied and goals from Yamagata and Enya won them the three points which opens a five-point gap between themselves and Shizuoka Sangyo in ninth.

Ange Violet make the long journey to Miyagi to play the troubled Tokiwagi Gakuen; Setagaya have a must-win tie at home to Takatsuki.

Ange Violet Hiroshima:
Uetani Kumiko, Ichikawa Sonoka, Matsuda Ikumi, Takeda Yuki (capt), Katsurama Fumina, Kitagawa Kana, Enya Mari, Mizuno Yuri, Konishi Natsuki, Saihara Mizuki, Yamagata Hisami
Subs: Uozumi Arisa (Konishi Natsuki, 66 mins)
Unused subs: Kameda Megumi, Tanaka Ayako, Yamashita Kurumi, Yamashita Mayumi
Scorers: Own Goal (45+2 mins), Yamagata Hisami (59 mins), Enya Mari (84 mins)

Sfida Setagaya FC:
Kawamura Yuki, Fukuhara Nao, Kawashima Tamai, Tanaka Marina, Shano Miki, Tanaka Mariko, Kuwahara Yoshie, Usuda Haruka, Nagata Maya (capt), Sunoki Yurie, Nagasaki Akane
Subs: Ikeda Takami (Nagasaki Akane, 63 mins), Nagasawa Yume (Sunoki Yurie, 71 mins), Hasegawa Aoi (Usuda Haruka, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Tago Aki
Scorers: Sunoki Yurie (49 mins)
Booked: Ikeda Takami


Ehime FC Ladies  1 - 3  AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies
(Attendance: 235)

A second consecutive win keeps Nagano within seven points of Nojima in the promotion play-off place, though it may yet be too much of a gap to make up. Ehime took the lead in this game, Akune Mana scoring after Kamata pulled the ball back for her following an Ehime corner. Nagano were level five minutes before half-time, Yokoyama recovering a loose ball to powerfully run through the defence to score.

In the second half, Nagano scored twice more to steal the points away and leave Ehime eleventh in the table. First, in the 57th minute, Uchiyama put through a marvellous ball for Hashiura to run on to, and with Ueno rushing out to clear the ball but missing, Hashiura had the simple task of running the ball into the net. With five minutes remaining, Yokoyama was again too strong for the Ehime defence as she crossed from the right for Hashiura to score her second of the day and seventh of the season.

Nagano are at home next weekend to the powerful Nittaidai side, with Ehime taking on fellow strugglers the JSCL.

Ehime FC Ladies:
Ueno Yukiko (capt), Kamata Ran, Nishimura Nozomi, Mukaidani Ayaka, Kawamura Akari, Watai Shiori, Iwamoto Yuka, Kariya Maiko, Yamashiro Miyuki, Akune Mana, Haruyama Saori
Subs: Nishigawa Sayumi (Mukaidani Ayaka, 56 mins), Tagami Natsumi (Iwamoto Yuka, 70 mins), Kushiyama Saki (Kawamura Akari, 78 mins), Nakachi Hinako (Akune Mana, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Osako Hanako
Scorers: Akune Mana (25 mins)
Booked: Nishimura Nozomi

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Ikegaya Natsumi, Yajima Yuki, Oshima Nozomi, Tanaka Nami (capt), Urasaki Yuka, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Yoshida Aoi, Shigemasa Kai, Hamagaki Kana, Hashiura Satsuki, Yokoyama Kumi
Subs: Wada Makoto (Shigemasa Kai, 62 mins), Uchiyama Tomoka (Yokoyama Kumi, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Unoki Mao, Kanefuda Anzu, Makii Kasane
Scorers: Yokoyama Kumi (40 mins), Hashiura Satsuki (57, 85 mins)
Booked: Hashiura Satsuki, Urasaki Yuka


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  3 - 0  Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita
(Attendance: 432)

Takatsuki got back to winning ways to stay top of the table and remain favourites to gain automatic promotion back to the Nadeshiko League. Shizuoka Sangyo have been very disappointing this season and created little in front of goal. For Takatsuki the scorers were Tsuboi early in the first half, with goals in additional time at the end of either half from Akiba and Horiuchi.

Takatsuki have an important fixture next weekend against Setagaya who have begun to fall behind, with Shizuoka next playing on the thirteenth against Fukuoka.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Hatanaka Miyuka, Akiba Yumeko, Yoshimura Midori, Torao Naomi, Narumiya Yui, Sato Kaede (capt), Saito Toshiko, Maruyama Karina, Hazuki Yuki
Subs: Shimamura Yuko (Saito Toshiko, 87 mins), Horiuchi Sayaka (Maruyama Karina, 87 mins), Ishikawa Yuu (Hazuki Yuki, 90 mins), Hirano Satoko (Torao Naomi, 90+3 mins)
Unused subs: Gocho Misaki
Scorers: Tsuboi Ayako (9 mins), Akiba Yumeko (45+1 mins), Horiuchi Sayaka (90+1 mins)

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Terada Ikumi, Suzuki Rina, Miyazaki Kaoru, Nishiyama Mei, Ishida Risa, Shiroshita Chinatsu, Kubota Mitsuki, Hirano Asami (capt), Kanno Mie, Shimamura Kumiko, Komagata Nana
Subs: Oda Kanna (Shimamura Kumiko, HT), Kitaoka Chiaki (Shiroshita Chinatsu, 74 mins), Kuchiki Hikaru (Komagata Nana, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Maehara Ringo, Takahata Airi