Nadeshiko League Promotion/Relegation Playoff Second Leg

Iga FC Kunoichi  2 - 0  Nittaidai Football Club Ladies
(Attendance: 868)

Iga started this second leg of their play-off with Nittaidai with the same starting eleven from last week, though their opponents made four changes: Uemura and Goto were ruled out owing to injury, with Nozu and Ishii dropping to the bench.

Iga proved in last week's match - particularly in the second half - that they had the measure of Nittaidai, and again this week they were able to keep their dangerous forwards at bay. After a scoreless first half Matsunaga Yoshie put the home side a goal up. A through ball from Tsutsumi Saki found Mewis with just Inoue in goal to beat, and when her shot hit the post Matsunaga was on hand to finish off.

Nittaidai had needed two goals anyway, and still had hope, but with fifteen minutes Sugita Ami found Haji Madoka and her fourth goal in four games made the tie safe for the Kunoichi.

Nittaidai will now build primarily for the inter-collegiate championships which begin in a few weeks, though their most immediate challenge is the first round of the Empress' Cup, with the Japan Soccer College Ladies their opponents.

Iga have done what was necessary after a poor season, which was especially disappointing in view of their fourth-place finish in 2013. They enter the Empress' Cup in the second round, where they will face the winner of the tie between Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita and JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies U-18.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Yamaguchi Ayako, Miyasako Tamami, Nasu Maiko (capt), Ohashi Mio, Matsunaga Tomoe, Sugita Ami, Haji Madoka, Matsunaga Yoshie, Tsutsumi Saki, Kristie Mewis
Subs: Ogawa Shiho (Matsunaga Yoshie, 76 mins), Noichi Aya (Matsunaga Tomoe, 82 mins), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Miyasako Tamami, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Kobayashi Misaki, Kiyohara Marie, Kobayashi Makiko
Scorers: Matsunaga Yoshie (47 mins), Haji Madoka (75 mins)
Booked: Sugita Ami

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Inoue Nene, Matsunaga Saki, Haza Hisui, Abe Rie, Yamakawa Natsuki, Sakurai Mayuka, Enokidani Misaki, Kitano Rie, Ito Yukina (capt), Maeda Risa, Hirata Hikari
Subs: Ishii Chiharu (Ito Yukina, HT), Nagashima Hikari (Kitano Rie, 77 mins), Maegami Eri (Maeda Risa, 84 mins)
Unused subs: Matsuda Kasumi, Yamamoto Hirona, Nozu Erika, Uchida Misuzu
Booked: Enokidani Misaki, Haza Hisui

Iga FC Kunoichi win 4-1 on aggregate and will play in Nadeshiko League Division 1 next season. Nittaidai FC Ladies will play in Nadeshiko League Division 2.