Challenge League Seventeenth Round

Ange Violet Hiroshima  0 - 3  Ehime FC Ladies
(Attendance: 1,449)

The Challenge League's biggest crowd this season saw the home team ultimately beaten quite easily by the visiting Ehime, who move to within a point of the hosts, with Akune Mana scoring the first on 68 minutes, heading in easily after Kushiyama's powerful header had come back off the crossbar.

Yamashiro scored her second in two games with six minutes remaining after some fine work down the left from Akune, and Ehime's third on the stroke of full time was scored by Kariya, slotting home easily when found by Yamada - the Ange Violet defence giving her far too much space.

Ehime are at home next week to Fukuoka, who remain in danger at the bottom, with Ange Violet visiting another team desperate for points, Cerezo Osaka Sakai.

Ange Violet Hiroshima:
Kameda Megumi, Kitagawa Kana, Matsuda Ikumi, Enya Mari, Konishi Natsuki, Saihara Mizuki, Yamagata Hisami, Takeda Yuki (capt), Mizuno Yuri, Katsurama Fumina, Ichikawa Sonoka
Subs: Tokoro Yuka (Konishi Natsuki, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Uetani Kumiko, Yamashita Kurumi, Kuramoto Aya, Tanaka Ayako

Ehime FC Ladies:
Ueno Yukiko, Kamata Ran, Nishimura Nozomi, Nishigawa Sayumi (capt), Kawamura Akari, Iwamoto Yuka, Yamashiro Miyuki, Kariya Maiko, Ogawa Manami, Oya Ayumi, Haruyama Saori
Subs: Akune Mana (Ogawa Manami, 51 mins), Kushiyama Saki (Kawamura Akari, 65 mins), Mukaidani Ayaka (Iwamoto Yuka, 87 mins), Yamada Maya (Oya Ayumi, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Osako Hanako
Scorers: Akune Mana (68 mins), Yamashiro Miyuki (84 mins), Kariya Maiko (90 mins)


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  2 - 2  Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies
(Attendance: 471)

A spirited fightback from Cerezo's young team in the Osaka derby saw them rescue a point which may be enough to keep them up and at the same time dent Takatsuki's hopes of the Challenge League title.

Takatsuki looked good to take a two-point lead at the top of the table early in this game, with Yoshimura Midori scoring her first goal of the season to give them the lead in just the eleventh minute. Things got better for Takatsuki when Hatanaka Miyuka also scored her first of the season in first half additional time.

Cerezo were not to be beaten so easily though, and U-17 World Cup heroine Matsubara Shiho scored her first of the season to reduce the arrears thirteen minutes after the restart. With thirteen minutes remaining the sides were level, Katsuoka Miyu heading in a Hayashi corner.

Cerezo, having picked up just one point in the opening half of the season, have now taken another thirteen from the opening eight games of the second half to give themselves a chance of avoiding a relegation play-off. They next play the faltering Ange Violet at home. Takatsuki will watch the early Nittaidai-Nojima game with obvious interest before they play Bunnys away on Sunday.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Hatanaka Miyuka, Akiba Yumeko, Hirano Satoko, Yoshimura Midori, Narumiya Yui, Torao Naomi (capt), Saito Toshiko, Maruyama Karina, Hazuki Yuki
Subs: Sato Kaede (Maruyama Karina, 65 mins)
Unused subs: Hattori Mayu, Honda Saki, Toyama Sayuri, Shimamura Yuko
Scorers: Yoshimura Midori (11 mins), Hatanaka Miyuka (45+1 mins)

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies:
Fukunaga Erika, Wakisaka Reina, Katsuoka Miyu, Takarada Saori, Maegawa Miki, Nishida Meika (capt), Matsubara Shiho, Tanaka Mika, Hayashi Honoka, Yakata Miyu, Tamazakura Kotono
Subs: Kitamura Nanami (Tamazakura Kotono, 27 mins), Morinaka Hina (Tanaka Mika, HT), Inoue Hina (Kitamura Nanami, 63 mins), Furusawa Rui (Yakata Miyu, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Nishinaka Maho
Scorers: Matsubara Shiho (58 mins), Katsuoka Miyu (77 mins)
Booked: Tamazakura Kotono, Maegawa Miki


Tokiwagi Gakuen High School  4 - 0  Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades
(Attendance: 100)

Tokiwagi Gakuen started this game against the league's bottom side with a number of younger less experienced players, but with no goals coming in the first half, the champions introduced three senior players at half-time to win the game.

One of those was Sugihara Haruna, who opened the scoring on 50 minutes, and then added two more, one on 87 minutes and the other in additional time for her first hat-trick of this season. Kobayashi Rikako, on from the start, received an inviting pass from another of the substitutes, Shiraki Akari, and scored Tokiwagi's second on 57 minutes which ended the game as a contest.

Tokiwagi Gakuen next travel to Nagano on Sunday, with Shimizu hosting Harima. A loss for Shimizu will guarantee that they have to play in a relegation play-off at the end of the season.

Hirukawa Mio made just her third starting appearance for Shimizu today

Sugihara Haruna came on at half-time and scored a hat-trick,
this goal on fifty minutes was her first of the afternoon

Shiraki Akari and Nishikawa Ayaka were the other two senior players brought on at half-time by Tokiwagi Gakuen; here the former gets free of the Shimizu defence and squares for Kobayashi

Kobayashi stabs home the second goal as the champions started to show their superiority

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Suzuki Aguri, Kobayashi Nanako, Matsukubo Akari, Genseki Kiyoka, Suzuki Hinako, Ichise Nana, Iwaki Ayano, Takahashi Anna, Kobayashi Rikako, Ogiwara Yuka, Doi Asuka
Subs: Nishikawa Ayaka (Suzuki Hinako, HT), Shiraki Akari (Doi Asuka, HT), Sugihara Haruna (Ogiwara Yuka, HT)
Unused subs: Ono Asuka, Asari Iku
Scorers: Sugihara Haruna (50, 87, 90+1 mins), Kobayashi Rikako (57 mins)

Shimizu Daihachi Pleiades:
Maruyama Kimi, Kobayashi Natsumi, Taniguchi Emi, Oda Sayaka, Hirukawa Mio, Sato Kaede, Kanashiro Wakana (capt), Matsushita Norimi, Yamaki Kotomi, Baba Sayumi, Miyagawa Tomoko
Subs: Otawa Haruka (Sato Kaede, 54 mins), Inoue Yurie (Taniguchi Emi, 84 mins)


AS Harima Albion  3 - 1  JFA Academy Fukushima
(Attendance: 402)

Another fine win for Harima Albion sees them retain a high ranking in their debut season. Three goals in sixteen minutes did the damage, with those coming from Okajima, Hasatani and Koyano, with all three players scoring their first ever goals in league football. The Academy scored a consolation in additional time, Kojima Miku scoring on her temporary return from Albirex Niigata Ladies.

Harima are away to Shimizu with expectations high of a routine win, while the Academy host locals Shizuoka Sangyo University.

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: Saito Manami (Koyano Yuu, 69 mins), Minami Chiho (Hasatani Toko, 82 mins), Yamaguchi Saya (Murakawa Saki, 86 mins),
Unused subs: Sugimoto Aoi, Sugiyama Yuka
Scorers: Okajima Eri (22 mins), Hasatani Toko (33 mins), Koyano Yuu (38 mins)

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Asano Natsumi, Nakajo Yui, Hashinuma Maho, Kojima Miku (capt), Kitagawa Hikaru, Moriya Miyabi, Hirata Mai, Mizutani Yuki, Ibaraki Mitsuba, Tachibana Yo, Okuma Rana
Subs: Morita Umi (Ibaraki Mitsuba, 59 mins), Ueda Yuriko (Okuma Rana, 66 mins), Takahashi Fuko (Tachibana Yo, 69 mins), Akimoto Haruka (Nakajo Yui, 72 mins)
Unused subs: Hirao Chika
Scorers: Kojima Miku (90+2 mins)


Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita  2 - 2  Japan Soccer College Ladies
(Attendance: 171)

An entertaining match in Iwata saw another spirited comeback from the JSCL to earn them a point and keep them ahead of today's opposition on goal difference. Shizuoka, who started with New Zealander Hayley Bowden for the first time, took the lead after 13 minutes when Kubota Mitsuki converted a penalty, and this was added to after 30 minutes by top scorer Hirano Asami.

In the second half the JSCL found their rhythm and Toriumi Mai pulled a goal back after 69 minutes, with Sakaguchi Yuki equalising nine minutes later with her first goal of the season.

Shizuoka play all of their final five games in the prefecture, with the next of those away to the JFA Academy. The JSCL host Setagaya.

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Inukai Ayano, Nishiyama Mei, Shimamura Kumiko, Nakase Akane, Takahata Airi, Kanno Mie, Kamio Ayano, Kubota Mitsuki, Hayley Bowden, Shiroshita Chinatsu, Hirano Asami (capt)
Subs: Ishida Risa (Hayley Bowden, 55 mins), Kitaoka Chiaki (Shiroshita Chinatsu, 78 mins), Kuchiki Hikaru (Ishida Risa, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Terada Ikumi, Ogata Yurika
Scorers: Kubota Mitsuki (13 mins, pen), Hirano Asami (30 mins)

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Kawashima Kana, Nomura Natsumi, Takahashi Sakura, Kusakari Ayako (capt), Sano Saki, Nakashima Ayaka, Yoneda Saki, Sakaguchi Yuki, Iwasaki Manami, Toriumi Mai, Kudo Asami
Unused subs: Komatsu Akane, Tadano Yuki, Kikuchi Ruri, Ishibuchi Yuki, Tanabe Riena
Scorers: Toriumi Mai (69 mins), Sakaguchi Yuki (78 mins)
Booked: Nomura Natsumi


Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara  4 - 0  Bunnys Kyoto SC
(Attendance: 481)

Nojima did what they had to do against Bunnys Kyoto ahead of their crucial derby match against Nittaidai next weekend. Terada Reiko got the home side off to a perfect start with the opening goal on four minutes - her first of the season. In the second half Nojima finally made their superiority count as they scored thrice more, their top scorer Minamino Arisa netting twice with Omiya Reona adding the fourth with seven minutes remaining.

Defeat for Nojima against Nittaidai would be a huge blow to their chances of automatic promotion. Bunnys remain in trouble at the bottom and their next game will be no easier that today's, as they take on Takatsuki at home.

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, HT), Kawarazaki Nozomi (Yoshimi Natsuki, 74 mins), Kinjo Airi (Kanai Nanae, 82 mins), Nanjo Masayo (Kobayashi Shiori, 87 mins), Saito Haruna (Minamino Arisa, 87 mins)
Scorers: Terada Reiko (4 mins), Minamino Arisa (57, 81 mins), Omiya Reona (83 mins)

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Takagi Misa, Akamine Mizuki, Saito Hitomi (capt), Akiyama Ryo, Shibuya Yumiko, Imai Haruka, Yamamoto Yumi, Matsuda Nozomi, Kawano Maaya, Sawada Yuka, Oshima Sayuri
Subs: Hanazaki Rena (Akiyama Ryo, 32 mins), Kushige Aoi (Oshima Sayuri, 55 mins), Yamaguchi Yurie (Kawano Maaya, 74 mins), Fuchibe Mami (Imai Haruka, 77 mins), Yamashita Yu (Kushige Aoi, 88 mins)


Sfida Setagaya FC  1 - 2  AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies
(Attendance: 489)

Setagaya's chances of promotion to the top division were ended today when a second-half fightback from Nagano won them the game and kept them in with a slim chance of promotion. Mori Hitomi's first goal since coming back from retirement gave Setagaya the half-time lead but they fell to their fourth loss in seven games in the final thirty minutes when first Uchiyama Tomoyo and then Yokoyama Kumi with a fine shot scored to give Nagano all three points.

Setagaya play the JSCL away on Sunday. Nagano play Tokiwagi Gakuen on the same day. To reach a promotion play-off, they need to win all four of their remaining games while hoping Nojima lose all three of theirs.

Sfida Setagaya FC:
Ishino Himeka, Fukuhara Nao, Tanaka Mariko, Tanaka Marina, Sunoki Yurie, Usuda Haruka, Nagata Maya, Mori Hitomi, Hasegawa Aoi, Nagasawa Yume, Shimojo Aya
Subs: Hori Yoshie (Nagasawa Yume, 73 mins), Okada Ayame (Fukuhara Nao, 82 mins), Nagasaki Akane (Usuda Haruka, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Kuwahara Yoshie
Scorers: Mori Hitomi (15 mins)

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Ikegaya Natsumi, Tanaka Nami, Urasaki Yuka, Oshima Nozomi, Yajima Yuki, Kunisawa Shino, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Hamagaki Kana, Makii Kasane, Yokoyama Kumi, Hashiura Satsuki
Subs: Wada Makoto (Makii Kasane, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Unoki Mao, Kanefuda Anzu, Yoshida Aoi, Uchiyama Tomoka
Scorers: Uchiyama Tomoyo (60 mins), Yokoyama Kumi (87 mins)


Fukuoka J. Anclas  0 - 2  Nittaidai Football Club Ladies
(Attendance: 115)

This game was played on August 10th

Nittaidai marched into Kitakyushu full of determination and with two goals from their top strikers they came away with three points, giving them a six-point lead entering the final stages.

Uemura Shoko scored the first, taking her season's total to thirteen, after just eleven minutes. Two minutes into the second half, Hirata Hikari scored Nittaidai's second, with Uemura assisting. This was Hirata's first goal against her own club, and her fifteenth of this season.

Nittaidai next play second-placed Takatsuki on September 7th and later in the month play Nojima, who are third. Those games will be hugely significant in determining the final standings at the top this season. Fukuoka also play Nojima, in their next game on August 31st.

Fukuoka J. Anclas:
Kishi Hoshimi, Yanagita Shiori, Hanada Aiko (capt), Ito Chisa, Fujisawa Marin, Ukita Kotone, Doi Narumi, Doshita Misato, Takahashi Chizuru, Fujimoto Yuki, Marugata Rie
Subs: Yoshizawa Ai (Takahashi Chizuru, 57 mins), Fukui Shihori (Marugata Rie, 77 mins), Iimura Ami (Doi Narumi, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Shimada Megumi, Inoue Miku
Booked: Kishi Hoshimi, Ukita Kotone

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Inoue Nene, Sakurai Mayuka, Haza Hisui, Nozu Erika, Oki Shiho, Goto Ami, Enokidani Misaki, Kojima Wakiko, Ito Yukina (capt), Hirata Hikari, Uemura Shoko
Subs: Maeda Risa (Hirata Hikari, 71 mins), Yagumo Chisaki (Kojima Wakiko, 83 mins), Maegami Eri (Ito Yukina, 87 mins), Matsuda Kasumi (Inoue Nene, 90+1 mins), Abe Rie (Oki Shiho, 90+1 mins)
Scorers: Uemura Shoko (11 mins), Hirata Hikari (47 mins)
Booked: Goto Ami, Kojima Wakiko