Challenge League First Round

Yokohama FC Seagulls  1 - 1  Niigata University of Health and Welfare
(Attendance: 400)

The first league game for both of these sides ended in a draw which will please the away side more than their hosts. Neither side made much headway in the first half but just three points after the restart the NUHW's star forward Takahashi Miyuki gave her side the lead. Yokohama piled on the pressure and were soon level through Yoshida Mizuki, who previously played league football with Albirex Niigata Ladies. The visitors withstood continuous pressure which will have given them great confidence ahead of their first meeting with Tokiwagi Gakuen. Yokohama face their first derby against Yamato next weekend.

Yokohama FC Seagulls:
Asari Maya, Fujikake Mayu, Miyashita Nanami, Tanaka Keiko, Yamamoto Kana, Sato Nagisa, Nakai Miku, Yamamoto Emi (capt), Ishihara Ami, Yoshida Mizuki, Tanaka Yui
Subs: Imai Sayuri (Sato Nagisa, 79 mins), Muta Kaori (Nakai Miku, 87 mins), Ishihara Misato (Yoshida Mizuki, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Deguchi Haruna, Shibata Manami
Scorers: Yoshida Mizuki (59 mins)

Niigata University of Health and Welfare:
Kotaka Eri, Tsunemasu Tomomi, Nagasawa Natsuki, Kikuchi Yuuka, Meguro Marina, Abe Saori, Sekine Ayumi, Kai Sorami, Yamaya Ruka, Takahashi Miyuki (capt), Kaneshige Sari
Subs: Fukasawa Miki (Kaneshige Sari, 73 mins), Kinoshita Fuki (Abe Saori, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Ogawa Mai, Nakamatsu Kanami, Yoshinaga Yuuki
Scorers: Takahashi Miyuki (48 mins)


Tokiwagi Gakuen High School  0 - 2  Tsukuba FC Ladies
(Attendance: 150)

Tokiwagi Gakuen were surprised at home by league newcomers Tsukuba, who couldn't have wished for a better start to their league campaign. Shibata Kanaho, a recent graduate of Tokoha Gakuen Tachibana High School was their heroine, scoring in both halves. Tsukuba next face Norddea Hokkaido, who also had an opening day win. Tokiwagi Gakuen may see some changes ahead of their visit to Shibata to play the Niigata University of Health and Welfare.

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School:
Ono Asuka, Kashihara Mayu, Kobayashi Nanako (capt), Genseki Kiyoka, Sato Yui, Satake Anna, Iwaki Ayano, Furudate Chito, Takahashi Anna, Kuratani Narumi, Kobayashi Rikako
Subs: Okuda Seika (Iwaki Ayano, HT), Doi Asuka (Furudate Chito, 59 mins), Numazawa Miyu (Kashihara Mayu, 76 mins), Suzuki Hinako (Takahashi Anna, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Suzuki Aguri

Tsukuba FC Ladies:
Kunika Shoko (capt), Mitsuma Mutsumi, Hirano Kiyomi, Sugahara Haruka, Fujii Shiho, Aoki Risa, Mochida Haruka, Kamei Yumi, Imanaka Yuri, Shibata Kanaho, Kawasaki Shiori
Subs: Shibata Emi (Shibata Kanaho, 83 mins), Ina Chijiru (Mochida Haruka, 88 mins), Oyama Sari (Kamei Yumi, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Nakagawa Yoshimi, Kikuchi Sayaka
Scorers: Shibata Kanaho (14, 51 mins)


Yamato Sylphid  1 - 2  Norddea Hokkaido
(Attendance: 578)

Yamato's first ever league game ended in disappointment as Norddea Hokkaido snatched a win despite being under pressure for long spells. Norddea took the lead after ten minutes, Hoshiyama Ayaka with the goal. Yamato equalised through Hoshiyama's fellow Musashigaoka graduate Naito Yuka ten minutes later but the hosts' joy was short lived as Yokosuka Seagulls veteran Saito Asami scoring off a Kikuchi pass. Norddea will naturally be delighted with an opening day win, especially given that in 2011 they were relegated having won no games at all, and their next game is also away, this time to Tsukuba. Yamato host Yokohama in the first Kanagawa derby.

Yamato Sylphid:
Onodera Shiho (capt), Nabeshima Reika, Shikata Nao, Tsuhako Yumiko, Asai Kie, Naito Yuka, Endo Reira, Yamazaki Yuki, Matsuyama Tomo, Ishibuchi Yuki, Ando Hikari
Subs: Nishiyama Haruka (Endo Reira, HT), Suga Momoka (Matsuyama Tomo, 72 mins), Tagawa Hazuki (Ishibuchi Yuki, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Nakazawa Yui, Kawai Akiko
Scorers: Naito Yuka (20 mins)

Norddea Hokkaido:
Konno Mai, Kikuchi Yumeka, Hasatani Toko, Kannari Miki (capt), Arita Hitoe, Watanabe Mayuko, Minato Akiho, Arai Yukari, Narumi Wakana, Hoshiyama Ayaka, Saito Asami
Subs: Mori Misato (Narumi Wakana, 85 mins), Sanogawa Yuri (Saito Asami, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Watanabe Azusa, Kan Miran, Yamazaki Yuuna
Scorers: Hoshiyama Ayaka (10 mins), Saito Asami (34 mins)


JFA Academy Fukushima  1 - 0  Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto
(Attendance: 100)

The Academy players had no trouble on their return from a trip to Europe and a single goal from Nakajo Yui in the first half was enough to beat Kumamoto on their return to the league. The Academy next play newcomers Nagoya; Kumamoto next face Cerezo Osaka Sakai, who won today.

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Asano Natsumi, Takahashi Fuko, Hashinuma Maho (capt), Nakajo Yui, Morita Umi, Tachibana Yo, Ibaraki Mitsuba, Hirata Mai, Kitagawa Hikaru, Yosue Suzuka, Okuma Rana
Subs: Takahira Miyu (Morita Umi, HT), Iseri Natsuki (Yosue Suzuka, HT), Yonei Honoka (Nakajo Yui, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Hannah Stambaugh, Chiba Nanami
Scorers: Nakajo Yui (39 mins)

Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto:
Ushijima Natsuki, Kitagawa Minamo, Mine Tomomi, Hamada Erina, Terasawa Nozomi (capt), Kurahara Honami, Nakamura Miki, Kameoka Natsumi, Kutsuna Arisa, Hori Natsumi, Kimura Eri
Subs: Kouji Eri (Hori Natsumi, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Nakashima Mizuho, Kiyokawa Misato, Iwamoto Miki
Booked: Mine Tomomi, Kitagawa Minamo


Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita  1 - 0  NGU Nagoya FC Ladies
(Attendance: 250)

Nagoya lost their first ever game in the league, though the home side will not have been happy with a single-goal victory given how dominant they were. Hirano Asami scored eight goals last season and got her 2015 off to a good start, heading in Shiroshita's cross for the only goal of the game. Shizuoka will hope for more of the same away to Bunnys next week; Nagoya are at home to the Academy.

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Inukai Ayano, Shiroshita Chinatsu, Shimamura Kumiko, Kanefuda Anzu (capt), Kubota Mitsuki, Nishiyama Mei, Kanno Mie, Ishida Risa, Kuchiki Hikaru, Oda Kanna, Hirano Asami
Subs: Okuda Mika (Oda Kanna, 60 mins)
Unused subs: Nakai Hoko, Nakada Asaka, Tanaka Ayaka, Miyazaki Kaoru
Scorers: Hirano Asami (24 mins)

NGU Nagoya FC Ladies:
Takahashi Miharu, Ogawa Yui (capt), Shimada Yuka, Oshima Kaho, Fujimura Saki, Kuwata Chisa, Koike Ayano, Sugiyama Yuka, Shibayama Fumina, Imai Mayura, Kato Ibuki
Subs: Morita Makiko (Kuwata Chisa, 63 mins), Kato Ayaka (Kato Ibuki, 71 mins), Aoshima Miyabi (Fujimura Saki, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Unoki Mao, Terada Mayu


Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies  3 - 2  Bunnys Kyoto SC
(Attendance: 220)

Cerezo Osaka Sakai had to wait until the second half of last season for their first win, but took all three points in a lively encounter. Yakata Miyu had the home side 2-0 up after twenty-two minutes but Bunnys struck back ten minutes later through Oshima Sayuri. Cerezo were by far the better side and Hayashi Honoka restored their two-goal lead on sixty-five minutes. In additional time new recruit Minami Mana pulled a goal back for Bunnys. Both sides are at home next Sunday, Cerezo to Kumamoto and Bunnys to Shizuoka.

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies:
Fukunaga Erika, Wakisaka Reina, Katsuoka Miyu, Morinaka Hina, Maegawa Miki, Hayashi Honoka, Nishida Meika (capt), Matsubara Shiho, Takarada Saori, Yakata Miyu, Nojima Sakura
Subs: Tamazakura Kotono (Nojima Sakura, 58 mins), Kitamura Nanami (Yakata Miyu, 70 mins), Lee Songa (Katsuoka Miyu, 70 mins), Furusawa Rui (Nishida Meika, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Nishinaka Maho
Scorers: Yakata Miyu (19, 22 mins), Hayashi Honoka (65 mins)

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Takagi Misa, Hanazaki Rena, Ikeda Asumi, Minami Mana, Shibuya Yumiko, Sawada Yuka, Yamamoto Yumi (capt), Matsuda Nozomi, Yoshizawa Ai, Kushige Aoi, Oshima Sayuri
Subs: Nishikawa Itsuki (Oshima Sayuri, 63 mins), Okawa Masami (Yoshizawa Ai, 63 mins), Akiyama Ryo (Shibuya Yumiko, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Gocho Misaki, Momii Mika
Scorers: Oshima Sayuri (32 mins), Minami Mana (90+3 mins)