Nadeshiko League Division 1 Ninth Round

Vegalta Sendai Ladies  6 - 1  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 1,573)

Okayama Yunogo Belle capitulated early in this game in Sendai, with the home side scoring almost at will in the first half. Hamada Haruka had no trouble in scoring the first two goals, finding herself in space with little pressure. Kakazu Asuka added the third, with a spectacular strike from Sasaki Mayu making it 4-0 on thirt-eight minutes. Kawamura Yuri, who had a part in the first three goals, picked up one for herself as she slalomed through the Belle defence unchallenged to make the scoreline very unpleasant reading for Belle staff and supporters alike.

Sendai relaxed in the second half, and Kobayashi Makiko pulled a goal back for the visitors just before the hour mark, her third goal of this first season with the club. In reply, Nakano Manami scored her first goal for Sendai having transferred from Belle in the off-season.

Sendai stay in a good position going into the international break, with Belle struggling on just eight points.

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: Giovania (Hamada Haruka, 51 mins), Ono Hitomi (Sasaki Mayu, 60 mins), Nishikawa Asuka (Sakai Yuki, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Irie Miki, Sasaki Miwa, Inoue Ayaka
Scorers: Hamada Haruka (5, 19 mins), Kakazu Asuka (25 mins), Sasaki Mayu (38 mins), Kawamura Yuri (42 mins), Nakano Manami (80 mins)
Booked: Giovania

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Kado Yuka, Takahashi Sachie, Nakajima Chihiro, Mizushima Kumi, Asano Miki, Kobayashi Makiko, Miyama Aya, Okubo Mai, Matsuoka Miki, Kishino Sana
Unused subs: Mita Isayo, Taniguchi Kikumi, Kawano Saki, Hashimoto Shoko, Takahashi Chiho, Kuzuma Riyo, Tanaka Mayu
Scorers: Kobayashi Makiko (59 mins)


AS Elfen Saitama  1 - 2  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 910)

A last-minute goal direct from a free kick by specialist Kamionobe Megumi was enough for Niigata to take all three points home with them from Saitama, leaving the home team in a state of bother in the lower reaches of the table. Saitama were unbeaten in their three previous games and got off to a perfect start when Azami Rie scored after just fourteen minutes, but the lead lasted only ten minutes, Oishi Sayaka scoring her second of the season to level things up. Just when it looked like the sides would take a point each, Kamionobe stepped up to strike home the winner. Niigata thus move up to sixth, with Saitama remaining in ninth position.

AS Elfen Saitama:
Funada Mayu, Akitaya Misato, Matsuoka Sayuri, Nara Misaki, Matsukubo Akari, Otani Erina, Azami Rie (capt), Shimokawa Saori, Takano Saki, Sarah Gregorius, Takahashi Saori
Subs: Sugihara Haruna (Shimokawa Saori, 58 mins), Takahashi Kaho (Sarah Gregorius, 64 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Sakurabayashi Ayako, Onuma Miho, Kitano Rie, Segi Aiki
Scorers: Azami Rie (14 mins)

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Ichitani Tomoko, Sayama Momoko, Kitahara Kana, Nakamura Kaede, Obara Yuria, Saito Yuri, Takahashi Haruka, Sakaguchi Moeno, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Saeki Aya, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Watanabe Ayaka (Sakaguchi Moeno, 57 mins), Kodama Keiko (Obara Yuria, 66 mins), Yamazaki Marumi (Takahashi Haruka, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Fukumura Kanae, Kubota Mayu
Scorers: Oishi Sayaka (24 mins), Kamionobe Megumi (90 mins)
Booked: Saeki Aya


Iga FC Kunoichi  0 - 2  Nippon TV Beleza
(Attendance: 779)

Two goals in two minutes for Sakaguchi Mizuho - the first a smart right-footed shot, the second a powerful header - were enough for Beleza to beat Iga and to stay within a point of leaders INAC Kobe. Iga, having started the season with two wins from two, have since picked up just one point from seven games and are again in danger of dropping down a division.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Isashi Kaede, Miyasako Tamami, Ohashi Mio, Hatanaka Miyuka, Shimojo Aya, Nasu Maiko (capt), Matsunaga Tomoe, Suzuki Kaoruko, Matsunaga Yoshie, Haji Madoka, Sugita Ami
Subs: Noichi Aya (Matsunaga Tomoe, HT), Sonomura Nana (Matsunaga Yoshie, HT), Gloria Douglas (Shimojo Aya, 69 mins)
Unused subs: Koike Ayano, Michikura Hiroko, Kobayashi Misaki, Shimizu Akane

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Uetsuji Yumi, Hara Natsuko, Sumida Rin, Hasegawa Yui, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Kiryu Nanase (Tanaka Mina, 56 mins), Momiki Yuka (Hasegawa Yui, 78 mins)
Scorers: Sakaguchi Mizuho (29, 30 mins)
Booked: Muramatsu Tomoko, Iwashimizu Azusa


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  0 - 1  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 603)

Champions Urawa needed a late goal from a penalty kick by Seike Kiko to beat bottom side Takatsuki, which keeps them in the top six going into the long international break.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Sato Kaede, Akiba Yumeko, Takeda Arisa, Takahashi Saki, Torao Naomi (capt), Narumiya Yui, Hazuki Yuki, Saito Toshiko, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Enya Mari (Maruyama Karina, HT), Kitagawa Wakana (Saito Toshiko, 83 mins), Fujino Suzuka (Takeda Arisa, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Hirano Satoko, Yoneyama Suzumi, Ichino Natsuki
Booked: Narumiya Yui, Ono Maya

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Kurishima Akari, Norimatsu Ruka, Kohata Shiho, Kitagawa Hikaru, Shibata Hanae, Naomoto Hikaru, Kishikawa Natsuki, Kato Chika, Kira Chinatsu, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Wada Naoko (Kurishima Akari, 66 mins), Seike Kiko (Kato Chika, 72 mins), Usui Rie (Kira Chinatsu, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Tajiri Yumi, Chiba Minori, Nagano Fuka, Shiraki Akari
Scorers: Seike Kiko (82 mins, pen)
Booked: Norimatsu Ruka


INAC Kobe Leonessa  4 - 3  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 4,845)

Ikadai Risa got JEF United off to a perfect start with an early goal and she doubled the visitors' lead on thirty-four minutes, with the goals in both cases coming from deflections or saves. Kai Junko scored a similar goal at the other end following a corner kick, which re-energised INAC Kobe for the second half.

Masuya Rika, who had come on after thirty-six minutes, turned the game around in the second half with two goals in the space of four minutes and Kyokawa added a fourth on sixty-seven minutes to condemn JEF United to their first loss of the season. League top scorer Sugasawa Yuika did rifle home with thirteen minutes remaining, but her side were unable to find an equaliser. They drop to fourth, eight points behind leaders INAC Kobe, who are one point ahead of Beleza going into the World Cup break.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Tanaka Asuna, Sameshima Aya, Kawasumi Nahomi, Minamiyama Chiaki, Sawa Homare, Kyokawa Mai, Ito Kanako, Ohno Shinobu (capt)
Subs: Masuya Rika (Minamiyama Chiaki, 36 mins), Miyake Shiori (Tanaka Asuna, HT), Nakajima Emi (Sameshima Aya, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Nakada Ayu, Ito Miki, Sugita Hina
Scorers: Kai Junko (44 mins), Masuya Rika (59, 62 mins), Kyokawa Mai (67 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: Anzai Yuka (Hosaka Nodoka, 63 mins), Ueno Saki (Ikadai Risa, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Tsurumi Ayaka, Isokane Midori, Kamogawa Miho
Scorers: Ikadai Risa (3, 34 mins), Sugasawa Yuika (77 mins)
Booked: Nishikawa Ayaka