Nadeshiko League Division 1 Eleventh Round

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies  1 - 1  Nippon TV Beleza
(Attendance: 2,074)

Despite having the majority of the chances Beleza, with Iwashimizu back as captain after her suspension, were unable to see off JEF United who fought back to secure a point. Tanaka Mina scored her seventh goal of the campaign five minutes into the second half, but the league's top scorer Sugasawa Yuika found the net for the fourth game running seventeen minutes later. JEF United brought in Anzai Yuka for her first start and it was she who provided the assist for the goal. Beleza drop to second and on Sunday face a resurgent Okayama Yunogo Belle. JEF United travel to Takatsuki to play the league's bottom side.

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Chino Shoko, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Isokane Midori, Ueno Saki, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Anzai Yuka, Fukasawa Risa, Ikadai Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kamogawa Miho (Ikadai Risa, 62 mins), Wakabayashi Minori (Ueno Saki, 75 mins), Hosaka Nodoka (Anzai Yuka, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Tsurumi Ayaka, Yanai Rina, Mitsuhashi Asuka
Scorers: Sugasawa Yuika (67 mins)
Booked: Isokane Midori

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Hara Natsuko, Uetsuji Yumi, Sumida Rin, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Hasegawa Yui, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Momiki Yuka (Hasegawa Yui, 54 mins), Toriumi Yuka (Sumida Rin, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Nakasato Yu, Kinoshita Shiori, Kiryu Nanase
Scorers: Tanaka Mina (50 mins)


Vegalta Sendai Ladies  2 - 1  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 1,810)

Iga were very upset at the end of this game as they conceded a late penalty kick which denied them a point they deserved following an even game. The visitors took the lead on fifty-two minutes, Suzuki heading in a right-sided Sugita free kick, but three minutes later Sendai were level, with the goal coming exactly the same way: Ono Hitomi heading in Nakano Manami's right-sided free kick. Thereafter the going was tough in the wet conditions, and Iga picked up an extraordinary five bookings along the way, the final one for Ohashi Mio, who was unfortunate to handle in the box. Kawamura Yuri stepped up to take the penalty, scoring in a fashion that suggests she doesn't usually expect to have such a responsibility. There was little or no time for Iga to respond and they now have to focus on facing INAC Kobe in Nagoya. Vegalta Sendai play Saitama in Konosu.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Takenaka Rei, Sakai Yuki, Yamamoto Risa, Takahashi Nana, Takara Ryoko, Kakazu Asuka (capt), Sasaki Mayu, Kawamura Yuri, Nakano Manami, Ono Hitomi, Arimachi Saori
Subs: Inoue Ayaka (Arimachi Saori, 70 mins), Sasaki Miwa (Kakazu Asuka, 81 mins), Giovania (Ono Hitomi, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Nishikawa Asuka, Tahara Nozomi, Yasumoto Sawako
Scorers: Ono Hitomi (55 mins), Kawamura Yuri (90+3 mins, pen)
Booked: Sakai Yuki

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Isashi Kaede, Miyasako Tamami, Ohashi Mio, Hatanaka Miyuka, Nasu Maiko (capt), Suzuki Kaoruko, Haji Madoka, Noichi Aya, Sugita Ami, Sonomura Nana, Gloria Douglas
Subs: Matsunaga Yoshie (Sonomura Nana, 62 mins), Matsunaga Tomoe (Noichi Aya, 71 mins), Shimojo Aya (Suzuki Kaoruko, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Kuno Fubuki, Michikura Hiroko
Scorers: Suzuki Kaoruko (52 mins)
Booked: Hatanaka Miyuka, Sonomura Nana, Miyasako Tamami, Gloria Douglas, Ohashi Mio


AS Elfen Saitama  0 - 1  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 1,203)

There is now a seven-point gap between Saitama and the top six after their local rivals Urawa went home with all three points, Seike Kiko netting the only goal, her fifth of the season. Things look better for Urawa as they consolidate fifth place, though there is still a considerable gap in points and quality to the top teams. They next play struggling Niigata at home with Saitama also at home to Sendai.

AS Elfen Saitama:
Funada Mayu, Akitaya Misato, Matsuoka Sayuri, Nara Misaki, Utsumi Yui, Takano Saki, Otani Erina, Azami Rie (capt), Nakano Rino, Sarah Gregorius, Takahashi Saori
Subs: Hagiwara Aimi (Nakano Rino, 60 mins), Sugihara Haruna (Takahashi Saori, 71 mins), Shimokawa Saori (Takano Saki, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Sakurabayashi Ayako, Segi Aiki, Takahashi Kaho

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Wada Naoko, Kishikawa Natsuki, Kohata Shiho, Kitagawa Hikaru, Shibata Hanae, Nagano Fuka, Naomoto Hikaru, Kira Chinatsu, Seike Kiko, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Usui Rie (Nagano Fuka, 64 mins), Kurishima Akari (Kira Chinatsu, 75 mins), Chiba Minori (Wada Naoko, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Tajiri Yumi, Endo Yu, Kato Chika, Shiraki Akari
Scorers: Seike Kiko (37 mins)
Booked: Seike Kiko


INAC Kobe Leonessa  3 - 1  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 2,686)

INAC Kobe retook the lead of the division with this win over Takatsuki in the Kansai derby, as they as expected had too much for the visitors to handle. Takase Megumi's remarkable record of scoring in every game she's played this season continued, as she got on the end of a Ito Kanako free kick. Takase's opening goal was levelled by Tsuboi Ayako four minutes later, Narumiya Yui picking up a loose ball in the box to cross with Tsuboi finishing off. Kobe were too strong in the second half and two goals, the first from Kyokawa after sixty-seven minutes - with the Takatsuki defence unable to deal well after the ball hit the post. On eighty-four minutes Kawasumi Nahomi made sure with a third for the hosts, easily finishing after Masuya had taken the ball from midfield to shoot herself - the Takatsuki defence again letting themselves down. They stay bottom and are very unlikely to escape the bottom four, though a good start would be a victory over JEF United on Sunday. Kobe play Iga in Nagoya.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Nakajima Emi, Kai Junko, Miyake Shiori, Sameshima Aya, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ito Kanako, Ito Miki, Kyokawa Mai, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Masuya Rika (Takase Megumi, HT), Kinga Yukari (Ito Miki, 57 mins), Nakada Ayu (Kyokawa Mai, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Tanaka Asuna, Saito Natsumi, Minamiyama Chiaki
Scorers: Takase Megumi (37 mins), Kyokawa Mai (67 mins), Kawasumi Nahomi (84 mins)

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ueno Yukiko, Tsuboi Ayako, Sato Kaede, Takeda Arisa, Akiba Yumeko, Narumiya Yui, Honda Saki, Torao Naomi (capt), Sakumoto Fumika, Hazuki Yuki, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Takahashi Saki (Hazuki Yuki, 73 mins), Enya Mari (Maruyama Karina, 76 mins), Yoneyama Suzumi (Sakumoto Fumika, 84 mins)
Unused subs: Ono Maya, Fujino Suzuka, Hayashi Momo, Shimamura Yuko
Scorers: Tsuboi Ayako (41 mins)
Booked: Honda Saki


Okayama Yunogo Belle  1 - 0  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 1,365)

Belle's revival continued on Friday night with a one-goal victory over Niigata, with the goal coming from Miyama Aya, yet another trademark free kick giving Miyama her third goal in four games. Niigata had their chances but couldn't put them away and they now look vulnerable in seventh position. Belle face a greater test on Sunday against Beleza in Yokohama, while Niigata need a quick recovery away to Urawa.

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Nakajima Chihiro, Kado Yuka, Takahashi Sachie, Mizushima Kumi, Asano Miki, Okubo Mai, Miyama Aya, Kobayashi Makiko, Takahashi Chiho, Matsuoka Miki
Subs: Kuzuma Riyo (Okubo Mai, 63 mins), Hosokawa Motoyo (Asano Miki, 75 mins), Kishino Sana (Kobayashi Makiko, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Aoyagi Maririn, Taniguchi Kikumi, Kawano Saki, Tanaka Mayu
Scorers: Miyama Aya (79 mins)

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Ichitani Tomoko, Kojima Miku, Kitahara Kana, Sayama Momoko, Watanabe Ayaka, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Yamada Shoko, Saeki Aya, Sakaguchi Moeno, Obara Yuria, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Yamazaki Marumi (Oishi Sayaka, 75 mins), Saito Yuri (Sakaguchi Moeno, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Yamamoto Arina, Takahashi Haruka
Booked: Kamionobe Megumi