Challenge League Sixteenth Round

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies  0 - 1  Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara
(Attendance: 125)

In Saturday's only game, Nojima Stella did just enough top overcome Cerezo Osaka, beating them with a goal from Minamino Arisa nine minutes from time, her thirteenth of the season. Cerezo had pushed hard all game for a goal but couldn't quite find the net and they remain in difficulty near the bottom of the table.

Nojima move top at least for one night, though this narrow victory does little good to their inferior goal difference. They play again on Saturday, this time against another bottom-ranked side, Bunnys Kyoto. There's no rest for Cerezo Osaka, as they take on local rivals Takatsuki.

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies:
Fukunaga Erika, Wakisaka Reina, Katsuoka Miyu, Takarada Saori, Maegawa Miki, Nishida Meika (capt), Nojima Sakura, Yakata Miyu, Hayashi Honoka, Matsubara Shiho, Tamazakura Kotono
Subs: Kitamura Nanami (Nojima Sakura, 81 mins), Morinaka Hina (Tamazakura Kotono, 83 mins), Inoue Hina (Yakata Miyu, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Nishinaka Maho, Furusawa Rui
Booked: Fukunaga Erika, Morinaka Hina

Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara:
Kobayashi Shiori, Oyama Saki (capt), Terada Reiko, Yoshida Ayaka, Nagasawa Madoka, Setoguchi Nana, Yoshimi Natsuki, Omiya Reona, Inoue Yurie, Minamino Arisa, Kanai Nanae
Subs: Goto Maika (Omiya Reona, 70 mins), Kawarazaki Nozomi (Inoue Yurie, 70 mins), Kinjo Airi (Kanai Nanae, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Nanjo Masayo, Saito Haruna
Scorers: Minamino Arisa (81 mins)


Nittaidai Football Club Ladies  3 - 2  Ehime FC Ladies
(Attendance: 100)

An exciting game in Yokohama ended with Nittaidai returning to the top but only after a hard-fought battle against Ehime. Away to Tokiwagi Gakuen Ogawa Minami scored a hat-trick and she once again scored here, giving Ehime the lead after just eight minutes, though this was equalised another eight minutes later from the spot by Maeda Risa, who has scored seven goals in her last six appearances. Her seventh of that sequence came just after the forty-five minute mark, and four minutes after the restart Sakurai Mayuka gave the students a two-goal lead as they looked to build a decent lead. Ehime have shown great spirit in recent outings and they pulled one back four minutes later, this time through Yamashiro Miyuki, only her first of the season.

Despite pushing hard for the remaining 37 minutes, Ehime couldn't find an equaliser against a stubborn Nittaidai defence, today shorn of Haza Hisui, who has been called up to the national side.

Nittaidai have a weekend off next week when they will continue to focus on the Kanto Universities League. Ehime travel to Hiroshima to face Ange Violet, four points and two places above them.

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Inoue Nene, Sakurai Mayuka, Hiraide Haruka, Abe Rie, Oki Shiho, Goto Ami, Enokidani Misaki, Kojima Wakiko, Ito Yukina (capt), Ishii Chiharu, Maeda Risa
Subs: Hirata Hikari (Ishii Chiharu, 42 mins), Uemura Shoko (Maeda Risa, 49 mins), Uchida Misuzu (Hirata Hikari, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Matsuda Kasumi, Nagashima Hikari
Scorers: Maeda Risa (16 mins (pen), 45+1 mins), Sakurai Mayuka (49 mins)

Ehime FC Ladies:
Osako Hanako, Kamata Ran, Nishimura Nozomi, Nishigawa Sayumi (capt), Kawamura Akari, Iwamoto Yuka, Yamashiro Miyuki, Kariya Maiko, Ogawa Manami, Akune Mana, Haruyama Saori
Subs: Kushiyama Saki (Kawamura Akari, 56 mins), Watai Shiori (Ogawa Manami, 56 mins), Oya Ayumi (Akune Mana, 56 mins), Tagami Natsumi (Iwamoto Yuka, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko
Scorers: Ogawa Manami (8 mins), Yamashiro Miyuki (53 mins)


Bunnys Kyoto SC  1 - 1  Fukuoka J. Anclas
(Attendance: 210)

Both Bunnys and Fukuoka have had miserable seasons, and neither is yet completely safe from a relegation play-off. The visitors took the lead, their top scorer Fujimoto Yuki with a fine sol effort after just five minutes.

Fukuoka couldn't add to their solitary goal, and paid for this when they conceded an equaliser, Yamaguchi Yurie coming off the bench to net her first goal of 2014.

Both sides stay just outside of the relegation zone, in Bunnys' case only on goal difference, and they have a very testing next fixture away to Nojima. All four of Fukuoka's last games are away, the next of the final three is in two weeks' time, in Ehime.

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Takagi Misa, Akamine Mizuki, Saito Hitomi (capt), Akiyama Ryo, Shibuya Yumiko, Imai Haruka, Yamamoto Yumi, Kawano Maaya, Matsuda Nozomi, Oshima Sayuri, Hanazaki Rena
Subs: Kushige Aoi (Hanazaki Rena, 60 mins), Yamaguchi Yurie (Oshima Sayuri, 71 mins)
Unused subs: Yamashita Yu, Tanihara Yukari, Fuchibe Mami
Scorers: Yamaguchi Yurie (72 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: Marugata Rie (Doi Narumi, 71 mins)
Unused subs: Shimada Megumi, Iimura Ami, Takahashi Chizuru
Scorers: Fujimoto Yuki (5 mins)
Booked: Fujimoto Yuki


Ange Violet Hiroshima  0 - 1  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 775)

Visiting Takatsuki overwhelmed Ange Violet - who again had an impressive home attendance - though won by just the one goal, and early strike from veteran Maruyama Karina.

Takatsuki have looked impressive all season, and will be favourites to go straight back up, with the likely decider being their final game against Nojima Stella Kanagawa. They have conceded only twelve goals and thus their goal difference is superior to that of Nojima, who also have to play Nittaidai. They next welcome new local rivals Cerezo Osaka. Ange Violet host neighbours Ehime, with both sides sitting mid-table.

Ange Violet Hiroshima:
Uetani Kumiko, Ichikawa Sonoka, Matsuda Ikumi, Takeda Yuki (capt), Katsurama Fumina, Kitagawa Kana, Enya Mari, Konishi Natsuki, Mizuno Yuri, Akagi Yui, Kuramoto Aya
Subs: Saihara Mizuki (Akagi Yui, 57 mins), Tokoro Yuka (Kuramoto Aya, 64 mins)
Unused subs: Kameda Megumi, Yamashita Kurumi, Tanaka Ayako

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Yoshimura Midori, Hatanaka Miyuka, Akiba Yumeko, Hirano Satoko, Hazuki Yuki, Torao Naomi (capt), Narumiya Yui, Tsuboi Ayako, Saito Toshiko, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Honda Saki (Yoshimura Midori, 70 mins), Toyama Sayuri (Hazuki Yuki, 82 mins), Shimamura Yuko (Maruyama Karina, 82 mins), Shun Akane (Saito Toshiko, 90+3 mins)
Unused subs: Urakawa Riko
Scorers: Maruyama Karina (5 mins)


AS Harima Albion  1 - 1  Tokiwagi Gakuen High School
(Attendance: 233)

A goal from Chiba Sonoko after 36 minutes looked like it would be enough for a remarkable seventh 1-0 win in the league for Harima this season, but a late equaliser from Kobayashi Rikako gave Tokiwagi a share of the points to take back to Miyagi.

Harima drop to sixth and can no longer win the league, Tokiwagi's chances of retaining the title have long disappeared, though they should have no trouble next Sunday against Shimizu. Harima play the JFA Academy at home on the same day.

AS Harima Albion:
Kirihata Kotono, Kitagawa Wakana, Nishiyama Emi, Fujimoto Madoka (capt), Sakai Nozomi, Hasatani Toko, Okajima Eri, Murakawa Saki, Shirota Miki, Koyano Yuu, Chiba Sonoko
Subs: Imai Mayura (Koyano Yuu, 44 mins), Yamaguchi Saya (Hasatani Toko, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Sugimoto Aoi, Sugiyama Yuka, Machida Akari
Scorers: Chiba Sonoko (36 mins)
Booked: Murakawa Saki

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Ono Asuka, Kobayashi Nanako, Matsukubo Akari, Genseki Kiyoka, Kawasaki Saya, Nishikawa Ayaka (capt), Ichise Nana, Kadowaki Shihomi, Shiraki Akari, Kobayashi Rikako, Sugihara Haruna
Subs: Iwaki Ayano (Kadowaki Shihomi, 60 mins), Takahashi Anna (Kawasaki Saya, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Suzuki Aguri, Sasaki Yukina, Mitsuhashi Asuka
Scorers: Kobayashi Rikako (83 mins)


Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades  2 - 4  Sfida Setagaya FC
(Attendance: 80)

Shimizu scored twice for only the second time this season, but it was still not enough to withstand the attack of Sfida Setagaya. Setagaya scored twice from penalties in the first half, both converted by Tanaka Marina. In between Miyagawa Tomoko produced an equaliser, and she is now Shimizu's top scorer with three goals.

Hasegawa Aoi scored in additional time at the end of the first half, and again in the 65th minute to ensure that the points would return to western Tokyo. Shimizu did have the last say though, Miyagawa supplying captain Kanashiro Wakana for her second goal of the season as the game entered its closing stages.

Setagaya are now almost certain to miss out on a play-off, though will fight hard to overtake fourth-placed Nagano, whom they play next weekend. Shimizu travel to Miyagi to play Tokiwagi Gakuen.

Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades:
Maruyama Kimi, Kobayashi Natsumi, Taniguchi Emi, Oda Sayaka, Inoue Yurie, Sato Kaede, Kanashiro Wakana (capt), Matsushita Norimi, Yamaki Kotomi, Miyagawa Tomoko, Baba Sayumi
Subs: Hirukawa Mio (Inoue Yurie, 36 mins), Kawachi Erika (Sato Kaede, HT)
Unused subs: Miura Kyoko
Scorers: Miyagawa Tomoko (33 mins), Kanashiro Wakana (89 mins)
Booked: Kanashiro Wakana

Sfida Setagaya FC:
Kawamura Yuki, Fukuhara Nao, Kawashima Tamai, Tanaka Marina, Sunoki Yurie, Usuda Haruka, Nagata Maya (capt), Mori Hitomi, Hasegawa Aoi, Nagasawa Yume, Shimojo Aya
Subs: Hori Yoshie (Nagasawa Yume, 62 mins), Okada Ayame (Mori Hitomi, 66 mins), Tago Aki (Usuda Haruka, 70 mins), Sakuragi Ayana (Kawamura Yuki, 73 mins)
Unused subs: Tanaka Mariko
Scorers: Tanaka Marina (30 mins, 39 mins, both penalties), Hasegawa Aoi (45+1, 65 mins)


AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies  4 - 0  Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita
(Attendance: 930)

This game was played on August 30th

Nagano's largest home attendance ever saw the home side easily beat a Shizuoka Sangyo team which this season has been very disappointing. Kunisawa Shino, just back from studying in the United States, started her first game for Nagano in midfield.

Despite continuous pressure from Nagano, it took until the second half before they found the net, captain Tanaka Nami scoring from a corner kick taken by Yokoyama Kumi. Yokoyama then found the net a minute later, with Kunisawa assisting, and the league's top scorer helped herself to another two goals for a fine hat-trick.

Nagano need to keep winning and hope that Nojima slip up badly if they are to catch them for the promotion play-off position, though the chances of this happening are remote. They next travel to Shimizu to take on the league's bottom side. Shizuoka play Setagaya.

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Ikegaya Natsumi, Oshima Nozomi, Yajima Yuki, Kanefuda Anzu, Tanaka Nami (capt), Yoshida Aoi, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Kunisawa Shino, Hamagaki Kana, Yokoyama Kumi, Hashiura Satsuki
Subs: Urasaki Yuka (Hamagaki Kana, 74 mins), Uchiyama Tomoka (Hashiura Satsuki, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Unoki Mao, Wada Makoto, Makii Kasane
Scorers: Tanaka Nami (51 mins), Yokoyama Kumi (52, 79, 87 mins)

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Terada Ikumi, Shimamura Kumiko, Nishiyama Mei, Nakase Akane, Takahata Airi, Kanno Mie, Ogata Yurika, Kubota Mitsuki, Ishida Risa, Oda Kanna, Hirano Asami (capt)
Subs: Shiroshita Chinatsu (Ishida Risa, 54 mins), Kitaoka Chiaki (Oda Kanna, 56 mins), Komagata Nana (Kanno Mie, 71 mins)
Unused subs: Inukai Ayano, Kuchiki Hikaru


Japan Soccer College Ladies  1 - 0  JFA Academy Fukushima
(Attendance: 145)

This game was played on August 31st

A late goal from perennial JSCL heroine Toriumi Mai gave the home side a vital win and three points which move them five points clear of relegation danger. The JFA Academy were unusually subdued in front of goal and created few chances.

This is the first season in which the JSCL have beaten the Academy twice, and they will hope to do well in their upcoming games against Shizuoka Sangyo and Sfida Setagaya. The Academy also play next on the 21st, away to Harima.

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Kawashima Kana, Nomura Natsumi, Takahashi Sakura, Kusakari Ayako (capt), Sano Saki, Yoneda Saki, Sakaguchi Yuki, Nakashima Ayaka, Toriumi Mai, Iwasaki Manami, Kudo Asami
Subs: Matsumoto Hotaru (Yoneda Saki, 80 mins), Ishibuchi Yuki (Nakashima Ayaka, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Komatsu Akane, Kikuchi Ruri, Fukumoto Junko
Scorers: Toriumi Mai (86 mins)

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Hannah Stambaugh, Takahashi Fuko, Hashinuma Maho, Morita Umi, Kitagawa Hikaru, Hirata Mai, Tachibana Yo, Nakajo Yui, Moriya Miyabi (capt), Okuma Rana, Ibaraki Mitsuba
Subs: Ueda Yuriko (Morita Umi, HT), Togawa Yuki (Nakajo Yui, 67 mins), Tsukamoto Natsuki (Okuma Rana, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Asano Natsumi, Akimoto Haruka