Nadeshiko League Division 1 Seventh Round

Vegalta Sendai Ladies  2 - 1  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 1,370)

An exciting come-from-behind victory for Vegalta Sendai means that they stay unbeaten and within the upper echelons, while the vanquished Takatsuki are still bottom are unlikely to make much progress up the table.

Former Vegalta player Narumiya Yui scored her first ever goal in the top division to give her side the surprise half-time lead and for a long time it seemed that Vegalta's chances would run out. However, Giovania came on as a late substitute, as she has done on five previous occasions, and headed in the equaliser. Vegalta sensed the visitors' desperation and sought a winner, which duly arrived when Hamada Haruka struck home her third of the season with just three minutes remaining.

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: Irie Miki (Nakano Manami, 64 mins), Inoue Ayaka (Kakazu Asuka, 67 mins), Giovania (Arimachi Saori, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Ono Hitomi, Nishikawa Asuka, Sasaki Miwa
Scorers: Giovania (81 mins), Hamada Haruka (87 mins)
Booked: Kawamura Yuri

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Takeda Arisa, Akiba Yumeko, Kitagawa Wakana, Torao Naomi (capt), Narumiya Yui, Sakumoto Fumika, Takahashi Saki, Enya Mari, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Fujino Suzuka (Sakumoto Fumika, 84 mins), Yoneyama Suzumi (Kitagawa Wakana, 87 mins), Shimamura Yuko (Enya Mari, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Hayashi Momo
Scorers: Narumiya Yui (44 mins)
Booked: Takahashi Saki, Kitagawa Wakana


AS Elfen Saitama  0 - 0  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 483)

A very poor crowd watched a largely uneventful match, though Iga will generally feel that they should have won, having had more of the ball and of the clear-cut chances. There was some early drama when an injury to Iga's goalkeeper Sawada Norimi meant she had to leave the field, but Isashi Kaede was ready to replace her. Neither side wanted a draw, and both may well end up in the bottom four for the Exciting Series again this year.

AS Elfen Saitama:
Funada Mayu, Akitaya Misato, Matsuoka Sayuri, Nara Misaki, Matsukubo Akari, Takano Saki, Otani Erina, Azami Rie (capt), Takahashi Saori, Segi Aiki, Sugihara Haruna
Subs: Sarah Gregorius (Segi Aiki, HT), Shimokawa Saori (Takahashi Saori, 69 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Utsumi Yui, Onuma Miho, Kitano Rie, Takahashi Kaho

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Sawada Norimi, Miyasako Tamami, Ohashi Mio, Hatanaka Miyuka, Shimojo Aya, Nasu Maiko (capt), Matsunaga Tomoe, Suzuki Kaoruko, Sugita Ami, Matsunaga Yoshie, Haji Madoka
Subs: Isashi Kaede (Sawada Norimi, 5 mins), Sonomura Nana (Matsunaga Yoshie, 79 mins), Noichi Aya (Matsunaga Tomoe, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Michikura Hiroko, Shimizu Akane


Okayama Yunogo Belle  2 - 2  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 1,842)

Regular Series champions Belle have won just one of their seven games thus far this season and today threw away the chance for a second, with Urawa fighting back from two goals down to secure a draw for the second time in three games. Matsuoka Miki headed in the first goal from a corner kick taken by Miyama Aya, and in additional time another corner kick, again from Miyama, led to a scramble which ultimately saw Kobayashi Makiko score.

Urawa piled on the pressure in the second half and with thirty minutes remaining they had a lifeline - Seike Kiko heading in a cross from Shibata Hanae, with the same combination scoring last week. With five minutes to go Urawa had their deserved equaliser, Kishikawa Natsuki scoring a penalty kick. Both sides are still struggling to recreate last year's form and neither will be in a challenging position come the break for the World Cup.

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Kado Yuka, Takahashi Sachie, Nakajima Chihiro, Mizushima Kumi, Asano Miki, Kobayashi Makiko, Miyama Aya, Okubo Mai, Matsuoka Miki, Morisako Ayame
Subs: Kishino Sana (Morisako Ayame, 33 mins)
Unused subs: Mita Isayo, Taniguchi Kikumi, Takahashi Chiho, Kuzuma Riyo, Kawano Saki, Tanaka Mayu
Scorers: Matsuoka Miki (14 mins), Kobayashi Makiko (45+3 mins)
Booked: Miyama Aya

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Hirao Chika, Kurishima Akari, Norimatsu Ruka, Kohata Shiho, Kitagawa Hikaru, Shibata Hanae, Kishikawa Natsuki, Naomoto Hikaru, Kira Chinatsu, Seike Kiko, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Ikeda Sakiko (Hirao Chika, HT), Shiraki Akari (Kira Chinatsu, HT), Nagano Fuka (Naomoto Hikaru, 73 mins)
Unused subs: Usui Rie, Chiba Minori, Wada Naoko, Kato Chika
Scorers: Seike Kiko (60 mins), Kishikawa Natsuki (85 mins, pen)


Nippon TV Beleza  2 - 1  INAC Kobe Leonessa
(Attendance: 4,373)

Beleza took the lead in the thirty-ninth minute of this clash between themselves and the heavy title favourites, INAC Kobe, with a superb strike from the in-form Tanaka Mina. INAC Kobe responded almost immediately however, with Kawasumi Nahomi scoring her third of the season. The teams were evenly matched in the second half also, until Tanaka Mina finished off a corner kick set piece to win the game for the hosts in front of this season's largest crowd, with substitute Sakaguchi Mizuho causing havoc in the box.

Beleza move to within a point of INAC Kobe, who have now lost their 100% record. INAC play Vegalta Sendai in Okinawa next weekend, with Beleza away to Urawa.

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Uetsuji Yumi, Hara Natsuko, Sumida Rin, Momiki Yuka, Hasegawa Yui, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Sakaguchi Mizuho (Momiki Yuka, 53 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Nakasato Yu, Kiryu Nanase, Fukumaru Tomoko, Shimada Chiaki
Scorers: Tanaka Mina (39, 72 mins)
Booked: Iwashimizu Azusa

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Tanaka Asuna, Sameshima Aya, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ito Kanako, Sawa Homare, Kyokawa Mai, Ohno Shinobu, Masuya Rika
Subs: Nakada Ayu (Masuya Rika, 78 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Miyake Shiori, Minamiyama Chiaki, Nakajima Emi, Ito Miki
Scorers: Kawasumi Nahomi (41 mins)
Booked: Kinga Yukari


Albirex Niigata Ladies  0 - 0  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 3,174)

There was little to choose between these two sides and the large crowd, most of whom had watched Albirex Niigata's men's team, will have been disappointed with the unexciting fare. JEF United maintain their unbeaten record but for Niigata there will be concern that Kitahara Kana, who had to be replaced in the first half, may have a nasty injury.

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Ichitani Tomoko, Obara Yuria, Kitahara Kana, Sayama Momoko, Watanabe Ayaka, Saito Yuri, Takahashi Haruka, Saeki Aya, Sakaguchi Moeno, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Nakamura Kaede (Kitahara Kana, 43 mins), Kubota Mayu (Oishi Sayaka, 66 mins), Kodama Keiko (Saeki Aya, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Fukumura Kanae, Takamura Chisato, Yamazaki Marumi, Kawasaki Saya

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, 57 mins), Anzai Yuka (Hosaka Nodoka, 68 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Ueno Saki, Tsurumi Ayaka, Isokane Midori, Shimada Ayako