Challenge League Twelfth Round

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School  3 - 1  Bunnys Kyoto SC
(Attendance: 100)

This game was played on July 27th

Tokiwagi Gakuen's first and second year players were all rested ahead of the Inter-Highschool Championships next weekend, so their team was made up exclusively of third year players today, as they took on a Bunnys Kyoto side desperate for points to pull them clear of danger at the bottom.

With Bunnys' regular goalkeeper Konno Mai unavailable, Takagi Misa was brought into the senior side for her first league start, along with Imai Haruka, for whom this was also a first league appearance, with the talented Fujieda Junshin midfielder on loan from Nadeshiko League champions INAC Kobe.

In searing heat the players did well to keep their energy levels high, though there were few chances to score. Akiyama Ryo had the best chance for Bunnys, though struck her shot against the bar, with Tokiwagi's substitute goalkeeper Kinoshita Natsumi - who also made her league debut - well beaten.

After a scoreless first half Tokiwagi Gakuen came out with more attacking purpose in the second, and seven minutes after the restart Nishikawa Ayaka gave the home side the lead, scoring direct from a free kick that Takagi will certainly feel she should have saved.

Bunnys had shown some good play in the first half and were deservedly level eleven minutes later when Akiyama Ryo scored with a fine shot from distance to the delight of the Bunnys supporters - many of whom were local and had come to support Seiwa Gakuen graduate Yamaguchi Yurie.

Tokiwagi recovered well though, much more so than they had done against Ehime last weekend, and they scored twice to take all three points. Komori Aoi has seen little action over the past three seasons, but she has now scored four goals in four appearances this season. Just as had done against Ange Violet, she took the ball around the goalkeeper to score easily. Mitsuhashi Asuka scored her first goal of the season four minutes later when she produced a fine chip to beat Takagi and the Bunnys defenders in front of her.

Next weekend Bunnys play the most important of their remaining games, away to Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies who are just one point behind them. Tokiwagi Gakuen take a break to play in the Inter-Highschool Championships as noted above, and next play in the Challenge League on August 30th away to Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki.

Bunnys brought in young goalkeeper Takagi Misa and Imai Haruka (No. 2), who is on loan from
INAC Kobe Leonessa, for their first league appearances today

Takagi leaps to catch an early cross

Akiyama had a number of good chances for Bunnys,
here she hits the bar having done well to create an opening

Sawada Yuka attempts to tackle Nishikawa Ayaka in midfield.

Imai Haruka has joined Bunnys until the end of the season. She showed her class on both wings before being substituted ten minutes into the second half

Takagi rushes from her goal area to tackle Komori, but does so poorly and gives away a free kick

Nishikawa scores direct from the subsequent free kick. Though Takagi got enough of a grasp on the ball to keep it out, it slipped through her fingers and crept over the line.

Tokiwagi's second goal came from Komori Aoi, who scored in exactly the same fashion as she had done against Ange Violet, taking the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper...

to calmly score her fourth goal in three games.
Yamamoto and Saito were just unable to get back in time.

Substitute Mitsuhashi Asuka scored a fine first goal of the season to win the game for the home side, lobbing the ball gently over Takagi and the Bunnys defence...

with Shiraki Akari not needed to finish off.

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Okada Mari, Fujino Suzuka, Asari Iku, Matsushita Minami, Kawasaki Saya, Nishikawa Ayaka (capt), Sasaki Yukina, Kadowaki Shihomi, Shiraki Akari, Sugihara Haruna, Komori Aoi
Subs: Kinoshita Natsumi (Okada Mari, 21 mins), Mitsuhashi Asuka (Sugihara Haruna, 67 mins), Arayashiki Sakina (Komori Aoi, 76 mins), Tsunaga Karin (Matsushita Minami, 83 mins), Sogawa Kotono (Kadowaki Shihomi, 88 mins)
Scorers: Nishikawa Ayaka (52 mins), Komori Aoi (68 mins), Mitsuhashi Asuka (72 mins)
Booked: Komori Aoi

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Takagi Misa, Akamine Mizuki, Saito Hitomi (capt), Yamamoto Yumi, Kawano Maaya, Oshima Sayuri, Sawada Yuka, Matsuda Nozomi, Imai Haruka, Fuchibe Mami, Akiyama Ryo
Subs: Shibuya Yumiko (Kawano Maaya, 24 mins), Yamaguchi Yurie (Imai Haruka, 55 mins), Hanazaki Rena (Fuchibe Mami, 65 mins), Masuda Kasumi (Akiyama Ryo, 74 mins), Yamashita Yu (Oshima Sayuri, 81 mins)
Scorers: Akiyama Ryo (63 mins)


Sfida Setagaya FC  1 - 3  Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies
(Attendance: 502)

A remarkable victory for Cerezo Osaka Sakai moves them above Shimizu at the bottom of the table and leaves Setagaya's hopes of automatic promotion severely dented. Tamazakura Kotono scored her third goal in the last three games to give the schoolgirls the half-time lead, and this was added to by Matsubara Shiho and Nishida Meika in the second half, with a lone reply coming from Nagasawa Yume in the closing stages little more than a small consolation.

Sfida Setagaya FC:
Kawamura Yuki, Fukuhara Nao, Tanaka Marina, Okada Ayame, Sunoki Yurie, Tanaka Mariko, Kubo Ayano, Kuwahara Yoshie, Usuda Haruka, Nagata Maya (capt), Hasegawa Aoi
Subs: Nagasawa Yume (Nagata Maya, 41 mins), Shimojo Aya (Kubo Ayano, HT), Murakami Akane (Usuda Haruka, 63 mins), Hayashi Reika (Hasegawa Aoi, 70 mins)
Unused subs: Ishino Himeka
Scorers: Nagasawa Yume (78 mins)

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 (Tamazakura Kotono, 77 mins), Nojima Sakura (Hayashi Honoka, 80 mins), Wakisaka Reina (Morinaka Hina, 85 mins), Tanaka Mika (Maegawa Miki, 90+3 mins)
Scorers: Tamazakura Kotono (29 mins), Matsubara Shiho (59 mins), Nishida Meika (73 mins)
Booked: Hayashi Honoka


JFA Academy Fukushima  1 - 1  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 143)

The Academy fought back well in the second half of this clash against the league leaders and took a point to keep their unbeaten run intact. Maruyama Karina scored her first goal from open play this year to give Takatsuki the lead in the first half but Kitagawa Hikaru equalised with just eight minutes remaining.

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Asano Natsumi, Ari Hudson, Moriya Miyabi, Kojima Miku (capt), Takahira Miyu, Hirata Mai, Ikeda Mao, Mizutani Yuki, Tachibana Yo, Morita Umi, Kitagawa Hikaru
Subs: Ibaraki Mitsuba (Ikeda Mao, HT)
Unused subs: Hannah Stambaugh, Nakajo Yui, Takahashi Fuko, Ueda Yuriko
Scorers: Kitagawa Hikaru (82 mins)
Booked: Ari Hudson, Hirata Mai

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Hatanaka Miyuka, Akiba Yumeko, Yoshimura Midori, Torao Naomi, Narumiya Yui, Saito Toshiko, Sato Kaede (capt), Maruyama Karina, Hazuki Yuki
Subs: Takatani Misato (Saito Toshiko, 79 mins), Shimamura Yuko (Maruyama Karina, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Gocho Misaki, Hirano Satoko, Yoshioka Haruka
Scorers: Maruyama Karina (27 mins)
Booked: Narumiya Yui


AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies  3 - 0  Fukuoka J. Anclas
(Attendance: 177)

Nagano struggled to break down Fukuoka in the first half but after the break found their rhythm to record a three goal victory to help them retain a top-half position. An own goal in the 79th minute was enough to seal the win, with Yoshida Aoi having scored her first goal of the season earlier to break the deadlock. Yokoyama Kumi scored her seventeenth of the season in additional time to keep her well clear at the top of the scoring chart.

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Ikegaya Natsumi, Oshima Nozomi, Urasaki Yuka, Tanaka Nami (capt), Yajima Yuki, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Yoshida Aoi, Shigemasa Kai, Hamagaki Kana, Yokoyama Kumi, Hashiura Satsuki
Subs: Wada Makoto (Hamagaki Kana, 64 mins), Uchiyama Tomoka (Yoshida Aoi, 72 mins)
Unused subs: Unoki Mao, Kanefuda Anzu, Makii Kasane
Scorers: Yoshida Aoi (53 mins), Own Goal (79 mins), Yokoyama Kumi (90+2 mins)

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Kishi Hoshimi, Yanagita Shiori, Hanada Aiko (capt), Ito Chisa, Fujisawa Marin, Ukita Kotone, Doi Narumi, Doshita Misato, Yoshizawa Ai, Fujimoto Yuki, Marugata Rie
Subs: Fukui Shihori (Marugata Rie, 75 mins), Takahashi Chizuru (Doi Narumi, 76 mins), Iimura Ami (Fujisawa Marin, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Shimada Megumi
Booked: Fujisawa Marin


Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades  0 - 5  Ehime FC Ladies
(Attendance: 52)

Shimizu find themselves at the foot of the table following this demolition by visiting Ehime. Haruyama scored a brace, one from the spot, and earlier in the first half Kariya scored her second of the season, with an own goal on 34 minutes adding to Shimizu's woes. Tagami Natsumi came off the bench to round off the scoring.

Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades:
Maruyama Kimi, Kobayashi Natsumi, Taniguchi Emi, Oda Sayaka, Hirukawa Mio, Miyagawa Tomoko, Sato Kaede, Kanashiro Wakana (capt), Yamaki Kotomi, Miura Kyoko, Kawasumi Saki
Subs: Kawachi Erika (Kawasumi Saki, HT), Baba Sayumi (Taniguchi Emi, 69 mins), Matsushita Norimi (Sato Kaede, 81 mins), Inoue Yurie (Miura Kyoko, 84 mins)

Ehime FC Ladies:
Ueno Yukiko (capt), Kamata Ran, Nishimura Nozomi, Mukaidani Ayaka, Kawamura Akari, Iwamoto Yuka, Yamashiro Miyuki, Kariya Maiko, Watai Shiori, Akune Mana, Haruyama Saori
Subs: Tagami Natsumi (Iwamoto Yuka, 66 mins), Oya Ayumi (Haruyama Saori, 71 mins), Ogawa Manami (Watai Shiori, 84 mins), Yamada Maya (Akune Mana, 84 mins)
Unused subs: Osako Hanako
Scorers: Kariya Maiko (14 mins), Own Goal (34 mins), Haruyama Saori (54 mins (pen), 68 mins), Tagami Natsumi (69 mins)


Japan Soccer College Ladies  1 - 2  Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara
(Attendance: 69)

The JSCL got off to a good start when they took the lead in the 44th minute through Ishibuchi Yuki, who had come on minutes earlier for Toriumi Mai, who unfortunately had to leave the field through injury. However, the JSCL's lead didn't even last until half-time, as an own goal pulled Nojima level. In the second half Inoue headed in a Yoshimi free kick to win the game for the Kanagawa outfit, as they move to within two points of leaders Takatsuki.

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Kawashima Kana, Nomura Natsumi, Takahashi Sakura, Kusakari Ayako (capt), Sano Saki, Kudo Asami, Nakashima Ayaka, Sakaguchi Yuki, Toriumi Mai, Iwasaki Manami, Tadano Yuki
Subs: Ishibuchi Yuki (Toriumi Mai, 42 mins)
Unused subs: Endo Honami, Hasegawa Mai, Yoneda Saki, Tanabe Riena
Scorers: Ishibuchi Yuki (44 mins)

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: Kinjo Airi (Goto Maika, 70 mins), Kawarazaki Nozomi (Kanai Nanae, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Nanjo Masayo, Nishimura Atsumi, Saito Haruna
Scorers: Own Goal (45+2 mins), Inoue Yurie (70 mins)


Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita  0 - 3  Ange Violet Hiroshima
(Attendance: 130)

A surprisingly easy three-goal win for Ange Violet on their travels to Shizuoka moves them ahead of Shizuoka Sangyo and back into the top eight. Saihara scored her third of the season to give Ange Violet the lead early in the first half and in the second Nittaidai graduate Yamagata Hisami and Hokuriku University graduate Kitagawa Kana added a goal each.

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Inukai Ayano, Takahata Airi, Nishiyama Mei, Nakase Akane, Ishida Risa, Ueno Haruka, Kubota Mitsuki, Shimamura Kumiko, Kanno Mie, Hirano Asami (capt), Shiroshita Chinatsu
Subs: Komagata Nana (Ueno Haruka, 69 mins), Kuchiki Hikaru (Shiroshita Chinatsu, 77 mins), Atsumi Yuka (Shimamura Kumiko, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Nakai Hoko, Miyazaki Kaoru

Ange Violet Hiroshima:
Kameda Megumi, Ichikawa Sonoka, Matsuda Ikumi, Takeda Yuki (capt), Katsurama Fumina, Kitagawa Kana, Enya Mari, Mizuno Yuri, Konishi Natsuki, Saihara Mizuki, Yamagata Hisami
Subs: Uozumi Arisa (Saihara Mizuki, 72 mins)
Unused subs: Uetani Kumiko, Tanaka Ayako, Yamashita Kurumi, Akagi Yui
Scorers: Saihara Mizuki (12 mins), Yamagata Hisami (59 mins), Kitagawa Kana (80 mins)


AS Harima Albion  1 - 3  Nittaidai Football Club Ladies
(Attendance: 257)

Harima have lost their fourth game of the season, with three of those losses coming to the current top three sides in the table, Takatsuki, Nojima, and today Nittaidai. Uemura Shoko scored twice for the students, the league's second highest scorer having gone five games without a goal. Harima had equalised Uemura's first goal just after half time through Chiba Sonoko's third goal in three games, but Nittaidai pulled away through both Uemura's second and Hirata Hikari's sixth of the season.

AS Harima Albion:
Kirihata Kotono, Minami Chiho, Nishiyama Emi, Kitagawa Wakana, Sakai Nozomi, Fujimoto Madoka (capt), Okajima Eri, Nakajima Chihiro, Shirota Miki, Chiba Sonoko, Murakawa Saki
Subs: Sugimoto Aoi (Shirota Miki, 44 mins), Saito Manami (Murakawa Saki, 72 mins), Momii Mika (Okajima Eri, 78 mins), Hasatani Toko (Minami Chiho, 83 mins), Koyano Yuu (Chiba Sonoko, 90+1 mins)
Scorers: Chiba Sonoko (49 mins)
Sent off: Kirihata Kotono

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Inoue Nene, Sakurai Mayuka, Haza Hisui, Abe Rie, Nozu Erika, Goto Ami (capt), Enokidani Misaki, Kojima Wakiko, Fuse Kanako, Uemura Shoko, Hirata Hikari
Subs: Yamakawa Natsuki (Fuse Kanako, 65 mins), Nagashima Hikari (Uemura Shoko, 87 mins), Maeda Risa (Hirata Hikari, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Matsuda Kasumi, Ito Yukina
Scorers: Uemura Shoko (45 mins (pen), 51 mins), Hirata Hikari (81 mins)