Challenge League Eighteenth Round

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies  0 - 3  Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara
(Attendance: 282)

With their top defender Haza Hisui on international duty in Korea, Nittaidai started this crucial game with newcomer Mastunaga Saki in defence and with Uchida Misuzu in attack, leaving their star strikers on the bench. Nojima were unchanged from their previous two games.

Kanto Gakuen graduate Minamino Arisa had been scoring the goals for Nojima recently, but today it was all about Yoshimi Natsuki whose first hat trick this season - and her first goals in five games - won the tie for Nojima and guaranteed them at least a play-off place.

Yoshimi's first came in the first half, off a Kanai pass down the middle as the visitors made the best of their few chances. Her second came from the same route but from Minamino this time, on sixty-nine minutes as Nittaidai looked a beaten team. Six minutes later Yoshimi another trademark free kick to give her side all three points, and condemn Nittaidai to their heaviest defeat this season.

Nojima's biggest game is yet to come, on the final weekend away to Takatsuki, but before that they play Ange Violet on October 25th. Nittaidai play Bunnys Kyoto on the same day.

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Inoue Nene, Matsunaga Saki, Sakurai Mayuka, Nozu Erika, Yamakawa Natsuki, Goto Ami, Enokidani Misaki, Kojima Wakiko, Ito Yukina (capt), Uchida Misuzu, Maeda Risa
Subs: Abe Rie (Nozu Erika, HT), Ishii Chiharu (Uchida Misuzu, 62 mins), Uemura Shoko (Maeda Risa, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Matsuda Kasumi, Hirata Hikari
Booked: Abe Rie

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 (Inoue Yurie, 81 mins), Kinjo Airi (Kanai Nanae, 86 mins), Nanjo Masayo (Kobayashi Shiori, 90 mins), Kawarazaki Nozomi (Omiya Reona, 90 mins), Saito Haruna (Minamino Arisa, 90 mins)
Scorers: Yoshimi Natsuki (16, 69, 75 mins)


Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies  1 - 1  Ange Violet Hiroshima
(Attendance: 302)

Cerezo Osaka picked up another point to move two clear of Bunnys with two games remaining, but it could have been more after Matsubara Shiho gave them the lead after an hour, with assistance from Hayashi and Tamazakura. Ange Violet equalised however with just ten minutes remaining to take a point for themselves and to leave Cerezo in danger, Enya heading home a corner taken by captain Takeda Yuki.

Ange Violet play next weekend against Fukuoka J. Anclas, who themselves are not yet safe, with Cerezo Osaka playing in the Kansai Championships which determine Empress' Cup participation. Their next league game is on the 26th of October against Ehime.

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies:
Fukunaga Erika, Wakisaka Reina, Katsuoka Miyu, Takarada Saori, Maegawa Miki, Inoue Hina, Hayashi Honoka, Matsubara Shiho (capt), Tanaka Mika, Kitamura Nanami, Yakata Miyu
Subs: Nishida Meika (Kitamura Nanami, HT), Tamazakura Kotono (Tanaka Mika, HT)
Unused subs: Nishinaka Maho, Morinaka Hina, Furusawa Rui
Scorers: Matsubara Shiho (60 mins)

Ange Violet Hiroshima:
Uetani Kumiko, Ichikawa Sonoka, Matsuda Ikumi, Takeda Yuki (capt), Katsurama Fumina, Kitagawa Kana, Enya Mari, Yamagata Hisami, Mizuno Yuri, Saihara Mizuki, Kuramoto Aya
Subs: Konishi Natsuki (Katsurama Fumina, 12 mins), Uozumi Arisa (Kuramoto Aya, 66 mins)
Unused subs: Kameda Megumi, Yamashita Kurumi, Tanaka Ayako
Scorers: Enya Mari (80 mins)
Booked: Takeda Yuki


Bunnys Kyoto SC  0 - 2  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 678)

Takatsuki did what they had to do against Bunnys Kyoto today, with two goals in quick succession in the first half deciding the contest, Sato Kaede and Narumiya Yui both scoring their fifth goals of the campaign within a minute of each other. Sato will have been especially pleased to have scored on her return to the starting lineup after missing three games. Takatsuki still look the most likely to win the division and to go up automatically, though everything will hinge on their final game against Nojima. Bunnys look increasingly likely to be forced to play in a relegation play-off at the end of the season.

Both sides are involved in the Empress Cup next weekend, but on Wednesday Takatsuki travel to Ehime looking for three points that would move them clear at the top. Bunnys' next league game is against Nittaidai on October 25th.

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Takagi Misa, Akamine Mizuki, Saito Hitomi (capt), Yamamoto Yumi, Shibuya Yumiko, Imai Haruka, Matsuda Nozomi, Sawada Yuka, Kawano Maaya, Oshima Sayuri, Hanazaki Rena
Subs: Akiyama Ryo (Hanazaki Rena, 41 mins), Kushige Aoi (Kawano Maaya, 60 mins), Yamaguchi Yurie (Oshima Sayuri, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Yamashita Yu, Fuchibe Mami

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Hatanaka Miyuka, Akiba Yumeko, Hirano Satoko, Torao Naomi, Narumiya Yui, Sato Kaede (capt), Maruyama Karina, Saito Toshiko, Hazuki Yuki
Subs: Yoshimura Midori (Maruyama Karina, 65 mins), Shimamura Yuko (Tsuboi Ayako, 73 mins), Honda Saki (Torao Naomi, 80 mins), Takatani Misato (Hazuki Yuki, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Hattori Mayu
Scorers: Sato Kaede (36 mins), Narumiya Yui (37 mins)


Ehime FC Ladies  5 - 2  Fukuoka J. Anclas
(Attendance: 160)

Ehime beat Fukuoka for the second time this season today, and did so in style. Within the first twenty-two minutes they had scored four goals, Akune Mana becoming their top scorer with two in the opening twelve minutes. Haruyama Saori has had a relatively quiet season but scored her fifth to make it 3-0, with Kariya Maiko also scoring her fifth to add to Fukuoka's woes. In the first thirteen minutes of the second half Marugata Rie scored twice for Fukuoka to reduce the arrears, but they were never going to make up the gap and with three minutes remaining Kawamura Akari scored Ehime's fifth.

Ehime play again on Wednesday, in a rearranged game against Takatsuki. Fukuoka play again next Sunday in a vital game against Ange Violet Hiroshima.

Ehime FC Ladies:
Ueno Yukiko, Kamata Ran, Nishimura Nozomi, Nishigawa Sayumi (capt), Kushiyama Saki, Yamashiro Miyuki, Iwamoto Yuka, Kariya Maiko, Akune Mana, Oya Ayumi, Haruyama Saori
Subs: Mukaidani Ayaka (Nishimura Nozomi, HT), Watai Shiori (Iwamoto Yuka, HT), Kawamura Akari (Kushiyama Saki, HT), Ogawa Manami (Haruyama Saori, HT)
Unused subs: Osako Hanako
Scorers: Akune Mana (10, 12 mins), Haruyama Saori (19 mins), Kariya Maiko (22 mins), Kawamura Akari (87 mins)

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Kishi Hoshimi, Yanagita Shiori, Hanada Aiko (capt), Ito Chisa, Fujisawa Marin, Iimura Ami, Ukita Kotone, Doshita Misato, Yoshizawa Ai, Fujimoto Yuki, Marugata Rie
Subs: Fukui Shihori (Iimura Ami, HT)
Unused subs: Shimada Megumi, Misawa Chihiro, Doi Narumi
Scorers: Marugata Rie (49, 58 mins)


AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies  2 - 2  Tokiwagi Gakuen High School
(Attendance: 329)

Kobayashi Rikako scored twice for Tokiwagi Gakuen, who made five changes to their starting lineup, to bring a point back to Sendai and at the same time end Nagano's chances of reaching the Nadeshiko League. Kobayashi's first just before half-time was equalised nine minutes after the restart by the league's top scorer Yokoyama Kumi, who now has twenty-six goals to her name. Kobayashi restored the lead for the schoolgirls on 66 minutes, before Uchiyama Tomoyo rescued a point for Nagano with her ninth goal of the season.

Tokiwagi Gakuen are at home next week to the Japan Soccer College, with Nagano not in action until the 12th, against AS Harima Albion.

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Ikegaya Natsumi, Tanaka Nami (capt), Urasaki Yuka, Oshima Nozomi, Yajima Yuki, Kunisawa Shino, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Hamagaki Kana, Makii Kasane, Wada Makoto, Yokoyama Kumi
Subs: Ichikawa Manayuki (Wada Makoto, HT), Uchiyama Tomoka (Hamagaki Kana, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Unoki Mao, Kanefuda Anzu, Yoshida Aoi
Scorers: Yokoyama Kumi (54 mins), Uchiyama Tomoyo (82 mins)

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Ono Asuka, Kobayashi Nanako, Matsukubo Akari, Genseki Kiyoka, Nishikawa Ayaka (capt), Ichise Nana, Kawasaki Saya, Shiraki Akari, Takahashi Anna, Sugihara Haruna, Kobayashi Rikako
Subs: Sasaki Yukina (Takahashi Anna, 68 mins)
Unused subs: Suzuki Aguri, Fujino Suzuka, Iwaki Ayano, Kadowaki Shihomi
Scorers: Kobayashi Rikako (44, 66 mins)


Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades  0 - 2  AS Harima Albion
(Attendance: 83)

AS Harima Albion move into fourth position in the table, and a top-four finish in their debut season would be a fine achievement. They had no trouble whatsoever in beating bottom side Shimizu Daihachi, who are now guaranteed to finish bottom and face a relegation play-off. The scorers for Harima were Nishiyama and Shirota.

Harima play in the cup next weekend, with their next game in the league on the 12th of October against Nagano who are a point and a place behind them. Shimizu play the JSCL on the same day.

Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades:
Maruyama Kimi, Kobayashi Natsumi, Taniguchi Emi, Oda Sayaka, Baba Sayumi, Miyagawa Tomoko, Kanashiro Wakana (capt), Sato Kaede, Yamaki Kotomi, Miura Kyoko, Kawachi Erika
Subs: Matsushita Norimi (Miura Kyoko, 60 mins), Hirukawa Mio (Sato Kaede, 85 mins), Inoue Yurie (Oda Sayaka, 88 mins)

AS Harima Albion:
Kirihata Kotono, Kitagawa Wakana, Nishiyama Emi, Fujimoto Madoka (capt), Sakai Nozomi, Hasatani Toko, Okajima Eri, Murakawa Saki, Shirota Miki, Chiba Sonoko, Saito Manami
Subs: Nakajima Chihiro (Hasatani Toko, HT ), Sugiyama Yuka (Okajima Eri, 64 mins), Nakatsuka Rika (Saito Manami, 64 mins), Koyano Yuu (Murakawa Saki, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Sugimoto Aoi
Scorers: Nishiyama Emi (14 mins), Shirota Miki (55 mins)


Japan Soccer College Ladies  1 - 1  Sfida Setagaya FC
(Attendance: 106)

Toriumi Mai has had a quiet season this year, but her third goal in three games gave the home side the lead after fourteen minutes, with Nakajima Ayaka supplying a fine ball for her to run on to. The lead lasted just six minutes, Nagasawa Yume heading home the equaliser from a Fukuhara cross.

Setagaya have had an ultimately disappointing season, and will finish well off the promotion places. They next travel to Shizuoka to take on the JFA Academy on Sunday. On the same day the JSCL travel to Matsushima to play Tokiwagi Gakuen.

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Kawashima Kana, Nomura Natsumi, Takahashi Sakura, Kusakari Ayako (capt), Sano Saki, Yoneda Saki, Sakaguchi Yuki, Nakashima Ayaka, Iwasaki Manami, Toriumi Mai, Kudo Asami
Subs: Ishibuchi Yuki (Nakashima Ayaka, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Komatsu Akane, Kikuchi Ruri, Tadano Yuki, Fukumoto Junko
Scorers: Toriumi Mai (14 mins)
Booked: Yoneda Saki

Sfida Setagaya FC:
Ishino Himeka, Fukuhara Nao, Tanaka Mariko, Tanaka Marina, Sunoki Yurie, Usuda Haruka, Mori Hitomi, Nagata Maya (capt), Hasegawa Aoi, Nagasawa Yume, Shimojo Aya
Subs: Hori Yoshie (Shimojo Aya, 57 mins), Nagasaki Akane (Hasegawa Aoi, 68 mins), Kuwahara Yoshie (Nagasawa Yume, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Kawashima Tamai
Scorers: Nagasawa Yume (20 mins)


JFA Academy Fukushima  5 - 2  Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita
(Attendance: 64)

Shizuoka Sangyo got off to a good start, taking the lead in the fifth minute through Kanno Mie, but they were eventually overwhelmed by the Academy, for whom Okuma Rana scored a hat-trick. Tachibana Yo gave the Academy a half-time lead after Okuma had equalised earlier, and Shizuoka were still in the game when Hirano scored to make it 2-2 six minutes after the restart. Following that goal the home team simply stepped up the pressure and two more from Okuma and a final goal from Hashinuma in additional time gave the Academy a fine victory over their Shizuoka neighbours.

The JFA Academy travel to Setagaya on Sunday where a win would take them above their hosts and into sixth position. Shizuoka Sangyo are involved in Cup action next weekend and return to league football on the 25th against Tokiwagi Gakuen.

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Asano Natsumi, Nakajo Yui, Hashinuma Maho, Kitagawa Hikaru, Moriya Miyabi, Ibaraki Mitsuba, Mizutani Yuki (capt), Hirata Mai, Morita Umi, Okuma Rana, Tachibana Yo
Subs: Kojima Miku (Morita Umi, HT), Akimoto Haruka (Ibaraki Mitsuba, 81 mins), Ueda Yuriko (Okuma Rana, 87 mins), Takahashi Fuko (Mizutani Yuki, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Hannah Stambaugh
Scorers: Okuma Rana (17, 76, 77 mins), Tachibana Yo (39 mins), Hashinuma Maho (90+2 mins)

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Terada Ikumi, Nishiyama Mei, Nakase Akane, Shimamura Kumiko, Takahata Airi, Kanno Mie, Kamio Ayano, Kubota Mitsuki, Hayley Bowden, Hirano Asami (capt), Shiroshita Chinatsu
Subs: Ogata Yurika (Kubota Mitsuki, HT), Suzuki Rina (Hayley Bowden, HT), Kitaoka Chiaki (Shiroshita Chinatsu, HT), Ishida Risa (Takahata Airi, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Maehara Ringo
Scorers: Kanno Mie (5 mins), Hirano Asami (51 mins)