Nadeshiko League Division 1 Thirteenth Round

Okayama Yunogo Belle  1 - 0  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 1,818)

Takahashi Chiho scored her second goal in Belle colours to give them a vital win over Takatsuki, who are struggling both in football and in financial terms. A long ball forward from Takahashi Sachie saw the tall forward outrun her former Kibi team mate Takeda Arisa and she poked the ball home to the delight of the home side. After the international break Belle are once again at home, this time against JEF United. Takatsuki will spend the break raising money to help them in their money woes, their next game is away to Saitama.

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, 66 mins), Hosokawa Motoyo (Asano Miki, 78 mins), Kishino Sana (Kobayashi Makiko, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Aoyagi Maririn, Taniguchi Kikumi, Kawano Saki, Tanaka Mayu
Scorers: Takahashi Chiho (67 mins)

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Sato Kaede, Takeda Arisa, Akiba Yumeko, Narumiya Yui, Torao Naomi, Honda Saki, Sakumoto Fumika, Hazuki Yuki, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Enya Mari (Maruyama Karina, 63 mins), Takahashi Saki (Sakumoto Fumika, 69 mins), Fujino Suzuka (Narumiya Yui, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Hirano Satoko


JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies  2 - 2  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 1,086)

Last season Iga came to Chiba, took a two-goal lead and in the final minutes conceded three times to lose the game. Today things weren't quite so bad, as JEF United scored just two to take a point. Sugita Ami scored from the spot to give Iga the lead going in at half-time, and Sonomura Nana scored her first to double the lead. JEF United's two goals also came from players scoring for the first time this season: Anzai Yuka in the seventy-first minute followed by a last-gasp equaliser from Setoguchi Kozue. Iga next play Urawa away, JEF United visit Okayama.

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Wakabayashi Minori, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Isokane Midori, Ueno Saki, Hosaka Nodoka, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Fukasawa Risa, Ikadai Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kamogawa Miho (Fukasawa Risa, 43 mins), Anzai Yuka (Ueno Saki, 69 mins), Yanai Rina (Hosaka Nodoka, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Tsurumi Ayaka, Nishikawa Ayaka, Chino Shoko
Scorers: Anzai Yuka (71 mins), Setoguchi Kozue (90+3 mins)
Booked: Ikadai Risa, Yanai Rina

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Miyasako Tamami, Ohashi Mio, Hatanaka Miyuka, Nasu Maiko (capt), Suzuki Kaoruko, Noichi Aya, Haji Madoka, Sugita Ami, Sonomura Nana, Gloria Douglas
Subs: Isashi Kaede (Kuno Fubuki, 60 mins), Matsunaga Tomoe (Noichi Aya, 60 mins), Matsunaga Yoshie (Sonomura Nana, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Michikura Hiroko, Shimojo Aya
Scorers: Sugita Ami (17 mins, pen), Sonomura Nana (62 mins)


Vegalta Sendai Ladies  3 - 2  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 2,087)

Vegalta Sendai's fifth successive win following an exciting game resulted in their guranteeing themselves a place in the upper section for the Exciting Series, making up for last season's disappointment. Former Sendai defender Osafune Kana came back into the Urawa starting XI for the first time since the opening game. Sendai took the lead early, an unmarked Sakai Yuki finishing off following a corner kick. Urawa came back strongly, and an equaliser was inevitable. Goto Michi scored a fine goal to level, her first since the opening weekend and better was to come for the visitors when Kira Chinatsu scored a second twelve minutes later.

Vegalta Sendai brought Inoue Ayaka on at half-time and she first helped to set up the equalising goal on the hour mark before scoring the winner herself four minutes later, Nakano Manami giving the final pass on both occasions.

Urawa stay in the bottom four though have every chance of making the top six. Vegalta want more, and their next match against Beleza will be unmissable.

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, HT), Yasumoto Sawako (Ono Hitomi, 78 mins), Giovania (Nakano Manami, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Nishikawa Asuka, Tahara Nozomi, Sasaki Miwa
Scorers: Sakai Yuki (6 mins), Ono Hitomi (60 mins), Inoue Ayaka (64 mins)

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Norimatsu Ruka, Osafune Kana, Kohata Shiho, Kitagawa Hikaru, Shibata Hanae, Kishikawa Natsuki, Naomoto Hikaru, Kira Chinatsu, Seike Kiko, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Nagano Fuka (Kishikawa Natsuki, 79 mins), Shiraki Akari (Seike Kiko, 79 mins), Kato Chika (Goto Michi, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Matsumoto Mamiko, Usui Rie, Wada Naoko, Kurishima Akari
Scorers: Goto Michi (20 mins), Kira Chinatsu (32 mins)


INAC Kobe Leonessa  2 - 1  AS Elfen Saitama
(Attendance: 6,067)

Takase Megumi took just thirty seconds to continue her remarkable record of scoring in every game she has played this season, as INAC Kobe took on bottom side Saitama in Kochi. The hosts couldn't add to their tally though, and on sixty-one minutes Saitama had an equaliser, Takano Saki striking a fine free kick which was just too high for Kaihori Ayumi to save. This proved to be just a temporary setback for INAC Kobe, who restored their lead seconds later, Kyokawa Mai scoring her third goal in three games to win the game, though Saitama did acquit themselves well and will have felt they could have taken a point. Their next game is a crucial fixture against Takatsuki; INAC Kobe travel to Niigata.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Miyake Shiori, Sameshima Aya, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ito Kanako, Tanaka Asuna, Nakada Ayu, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Kyokawa Mai (Nakada Ayu, HT), Masuya Rika (Takase Megumi, HT), Nakajima Emi (Ohno Shinobu, 66 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Saito Natsumi, Minamiyama Chiaki, Ito Miki
Scorers: Takase Megumi (1 min), Kyokawa Mai (62 mins)

AS Elfen Saitama:
Funada Mayu, Segi Aiki, Matsuoka Sayuri, Nara Misaki, Utsumi Yui, Takano Saki, Otani Erina, Azami Rie (capt), Nakano Rino, Sugihara Haruna, Takahashi Saori
Subs: Hagiwara Aimi (Utsumi Yui, HT), Sarah Gregorius (Sugihara Haruna, HT), Akitaya Misato (Segi Aiki, 70 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Matsukubo Akari
Scorers: Takano Saki (61 mins)
Booked: Matsuoka Sayuri


Albirex Niigata Ladies  1 - 0  Nippon TV Beleza
(Attendance: 1,331)

A first loss of the season for Beleza leaves them four points behind leaders INAC Kobe, and they are now only ahead of Vegalta Sendai on goal difference. The only goal came from Oishi Sayaka and this surprise victory is a massive boost for Niigata, as it pulls them out of the bottom four and within six points of JEF United, who are fourth. Niigata next play INAC Kobe in high spirits, Beleza host Vegalta Sendai.

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Ichitani Tomoko, Kojima Miku, Kitahara Kana, Sayama Momoko, Watanabe Ayaka, Saito Yuri, Yamada Shoko, Saeki Aya, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Sakaguchi Moeno, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Obara Yuria (Sakaguchi Moeno, HT), Yamazaki Marumi (Saeki Aya, 66 mins), Takahashi Haruka (Oishi Sayaka, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Nakamura Kaede, Yamamoto Arina, Yasaka Mei
Scorers: Oishi Sayaka (22 mins)

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Sumida Rin, Uetsuji Yumi, Tanaka Mina, Kiryu Nanase
Subs: Hasegawa Yui (Kiryu Nanase, HT mins), Momiki Yuka (Uetsuji Yumi, 70 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Nakasato Yu