Nadeshiko League Division 1 Third Round

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies  4 - 1  AS Elfen Saitama
(Attendance: 1,507)

Despite a lead goal from Azami Rie, which saw her dance nimbly past Wada Naoko to score smartly, the home side were much too strong for Saitama. Kira Chinatsu equalised off a grounded free kick by Kurishima Akari and Urawa easily pulled away in the second half. Kishikawa Natsuki smoothly put the ball away from a pull back by Shibata for the lead goal and five minutes later Kira scored again. With eight minutes remaining Usui scrambled the ball home following a corner kick after the ball was not dealt with by the Saitama defence and the champions have finally won their first points of the season. Saitama are yet to pick up a point and next travel north to play Vegalta Sendai who are yet to be beaten. Urawa play in Niigata.

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Hirao Chika, Kurishima Akari, Norimatsu Ruka, Kohata Shiho, Wada Naoko, Shibata Hanae, Kishikawa Natsuki, Naomoto Hikaru, Kato Chika, Kira Chinatsu, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Usui Rie (Wada Naoko, 33 mins), Seike Kiko (Kira Chinatsu, 76 mins), Shiraki Akari (Kato Chika, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Ikeda Sakiko, Chiba Minori, Nagano Fuka, Fujita Nozomi
Scorers: Kira Chinatsu (40, 72 mins), Kishikawa Natsuki (67 mins), Usui Rie (82 mins)

AS Elfen Saitama:
Funada Mayu, Akitaya Misato, Matsuoka Sayuri, Nara Misaki, Sakurabayashi Ayako, Takano Saki, Otani Erina, Azami Rie (capt), Kitano Rie, Takahashi Saori, Takahashi Kaho
Subs: Sarah Gregorius (Kitano Rie, HT), Sugihara Haruna (Takahashi Kaho, 70 mins), Segi Aiki (Takahashi Saori, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Toriyabe Kozue, Utsumi Yui, Onuma Miho
Scorers: Azami Rie (29 mins)
Booked: Sakurabayashi Ayako


Albirex Niigata Ladies  1 - 0  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 763)

A first goal and a first win for Niigata this season as they beat a Belle side not looking likely to repeat their feats of a season ago. Saito Yuri scored the only goal after thirty minutes and the hosts will probably feel that they should have been more comfortable given their overall superiority.

Niigata are thus given a boost ahead of the visit of Urawa on Sunday. On that same day Belle are at home to the unbeaten Beleza.

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Ichitani Tomoko, Sayama Momoko, Nakamura Kaede, Yamamoto Arina, Obara Yuria, Saito Yuri, Takahashi Haruka, Kodama Keiko, Sakaguchi Moeno, Saeki Aya, Oishi Sayaka (capt)
Subs: Watanabe Ayaka (Takahashi Haruka, 67 mins), Kamionobe Megumi (Saeki Aya, 78 mins), Yasaka Mei (Kodama Keiko, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Fukumura Kanae, Takamura Chisato, Kitahara Kana, Yamazaki Marumi
Scorers: Saito Yuri (30 mins)

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Taniguchi Kikumi, Kado Yuka, Takahashi Sachie, Mizushima Kumi, Kuzuma Riyo, Asano Miki, Kobayashi Makiko, Miyama Aya, Matsuoka Miki, Kishino Sana
Subs: Takahashi Chiho (Kuzuma Riyo, 61 mins)
Unused subs: Mita Isayo, Nakajima Chihiro, Hashimoto Shoko, Kawano Saki, Tanaka Mayu


Nippon TV Beleza  1 - 1  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 704)

Last season's top scorer Sugasawa Yuika came to the rescue again today as JEF United maintained their unbeaten opening to the season, with Beleza dropping their first points. Iwashimizu Azusa scored after some confusion in the JEF box following a corner with just over thirty minutes remaining and her side will probably have felt that they should have gone on to win. With thirteen minutes remaining however, a very poor clearance from Yamashita Ayaka in the Beleza goal straight to Sugasawa in front of her led to the equaliser.

Beleza next travel west to face the struggling Belle, JEF United host Takatsuki, who are in ninth with no points.

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Hara Natsuko, Hasegawa Yui, Momiki Yuka, Uetsuji Yumi, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Sumida Rin (Momiki Yuka, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Nakasato Yu, Kiryu Nanase, Fukumaru Tomoko, Shimada Chiaki
Scorers: Iwashimizu Azusa (59 mins)

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Chino Shoko, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Nishikawa Ayaka, Wakabayashi Minori, Hosaka Nodoka, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Fukasawa Risa, Ikadai Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kamogawa Miho (Ikadai Risa, 74 mins), Yanai Rina (Setoguchi Kozue, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Ueno Saki, Anzai Yuka, Shimada Ayako, Matsuura Nagisa
Scorers: Sugasawa Yuika (77 mins)


Iga FC Kunoichi  1 - 2  Vegalta Sendai Ladies
(Attendance: 887)

Iga went into this game with a 100% record and got off to a perfect start when Haji Madoka intercepted a poor Sendai pass and then scored from just inside the opposition half, Takenaka Rei caught out by the early strike.

Vegalta came back strongly and strong midfielder Kawamura Yuri scored twice, once in each half, to steal the points and maintain Vegalta's strong start to the season. They next host bottom side Saitama, while Iga will need to improve greatly if they are to trouble INAC Kobe in their next game.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Sawada Norimi, Miyasako Tamami, Ohashi Mio, Hatanaka Miyuka, Kobayashi Misaki, Nasu Maiko (capt), Matsunaga Tomoe, Noichi Aya, Suzuki Kaoruko, Sugita Ami, Haji Madoka
Subs: Matsunaga Yoshie (Matsunaga Tomoe, 56 mins), Sonomura Nana (Suzuki Kaoruko, 60 mins), Shimojo Aya (Kobayashi Misaki, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Isashi Kaede, Michikura Hiroko, Molly Menchel, Gloria Douglas
Scorers: Haji Madoka (7 mins)

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Takenaka Rei, Sakai Yuki, Yamamoto Risa, Takahashi Nana, Takara Ryoko, Kakazu Asuka (capt), Sasaki Mayu, Kawamura Yuri, Nakano Manami, Hamada Haruka, Arimachi Saori
Subs: Inoue Ayaka (Arimachi Saori, 75 mins), Giovania (Nakano Manami, 84 mins), Tahara Nozomi (Hamada Haruka, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Irie Miki
Scorers: Kawamura Yuri (26, 53 mins)


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  1 - 3  INAC Kobe Leonessa
(Attendance: 1,229)

INAC Kobe had far too much for newly promoted Takatsuki and are now clear at the top as the only side to win all three games thus far. Kyokawa Mai scored after some fine play through midfield, Kawasumi Nahomi supplying the final ball from the left. Kawasumi herself scored the second, though she may have intended her right-sided shot to be a cross. Kobe were thus two goals up within twenty minutes, but Takatsuki pinched one for themselves, poor control by Kai allowing Maruyama to pounce on the ball and then score past Kaihori. Another Kyokawa goal on the hour mark restored Kobe's two-goal lead and they had little trouble seeing out the remainder of the match.

INAC Kobe welcome Iga next Sunday, while Takatsuki play a day earlier in Togane against JEF United.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Sato Kaede, Takeda Arisa, Akiba Yumeko, Yoshimura Midori, Torao Naomi (capt), Enya Mari, Saito Toshiko, Narumiya Yui, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Takahashi Saki (Saito Toshiko, 55 mins)
Unused subs: Yamamoto Maho, Yoneyama Suzumi, Hayashi Momo, Sakumoto Fumika, Honda Saki, Takatani Misato
Scorers: Maruyama Karina (38 mins)

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Tanaka Asuna, Sameshima Aya, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ito Miki, Sawa Homare, Kyokawa Mai, Ito Kanako, Ohno Shinobu
Subs: Nakajima Emi (Ito Miki, HT), Sugita Hina (Ito Kanako, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Miyake Shiori, Minamiyama Chiaki, Nakada Ayu, Masuya Rika
Scorers: Kyokawa Mai (11, 60 mins), Kawasumi Nahomi (19 mins)