Nadeshiko League Division 1 Eighteenth Round

Vegalta Sendai Ladies  0 - 3  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 1,415)

Both teams went into this final game of the Regular Series knowing exactly where they would finish regardless of the result, and neither exerted themselves overly knowing that injuries could ruin their Exciting Series chances. Vegalta Sendai in particular made little effort beyound what was necessary, and to their credit JEF United stuck to their attacking plan and came away with a creditable victory. Some defensive uncertainty in the Sendai box led to the opening goal, headed in by Kamogawa Miho five minutes before half-time and two minutes after the restart Sugasawa Yuika deftly headed home the second from a corner kick, with the Sendai players all letting her go. In additional time Hosaka Nodoka combined with Kamogawa to score a third. Vegalta Sendai will need to show more effort in the Exciting Series if they are to be contenders; JEF United may be a point too far behind the top three to be genuine challengers. Both clubs need a win on the opening weekend.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Takenaka Rei, Sakai Yuki, Yamamoto Risa, Chiba Kozue, Takara Ryoko, Kakazu Asuka (capt), Sasaki Mayu, Kawamura Yuri, Nakano Manami, Inoue Ayaka, Ono Hitomi
Subs: Arimachi Saori (Ono Hitomi, HT), Yasumoto Sawako (Kakazu Asuka, 60 mins), Hamada Haruka (Nakano Manami, 72 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Nishikawa Asuka, Tahara Nozomi, Sasaki Miwa
Booked: Arimachi Saori

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Wakabayashi Minori, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Isokane Midori, Ueno Saki, Anzai Yuka, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Hosaka Nodoka, Fukasawa Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kamogawa Miho (Anzai Yuka, 31 mins), Chino Shoko (Sakuramoto Naoko, 82 mins), Ozawa Hiro (Sugasawa Yuika, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Nishikawa Ayaka, Yanai Rina, Ikadai Risa
Scorers: Kamogawa Miho (40 mins), Sugasawa Yuika (47 mins), Hosaka Nodoka (90+2 mins)


AS Elfen Saitama  1 - 0  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 1,265)

Saitama outplayed Belle today and their win, courtesy of Azami Rie's fifth goal of the season, means that they will start the Exciting Series level on points with Takatsui. Belle had hoped that a win today would put them well clear at the top of the Lower Section but this defeat raises questions about their ability to stay out of trouble. They still start out with six points, three more than the bottom two but any more poor performances in the coming weeks could see them slip down the table.

AS Elfen Saitama:
Sakuragi Ayana, Segi Aiki, Matsuoka Sayuri, Nara Misaki, Matsukubo Akari, Azami Rie (capt), Takano Saki, Nakano Rino, Kitano Rie, Sugihara Haruna, Takahashi Saori
Subs: Sarah Gregorius (Takahashi Saori, HT), Orita Aya (Kitano Rie, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Akitaya Misato, Sakurabayashi Ayako, Hagiwara Aimi, Otani Erina, Shimokawa Saori
Scorers: Azami Rie (53 mins)
Booked: Kitano Rie

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: Kishino Sana (Kobayashi Makiko, 57 mins), Kuzuma Riyo (Okubo Mai, 69 mins), Tanaka Mayu (Takahashi Chiho, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Mita Isayo, Taniguchi Kikumi, Kawano Saki, Hosokawa Motoyo
Booked: Nakajima Chihiro


Iga FC Kunoichi  2 - 4  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 608)

Iga looked good at half-time for a win and an additional point in the Exciting Series today, but four goals from Niigata in the second period erased all of the good work of Sugita Ami and her team mates. Oishi Sayaka and Saeki Aya had Niigata level just before sixty minutes and two goals from captain Kamionobe Megumi won the game for the visitors, who go into the Exciting Series in good form, even if they are ultimately unlikely to win it. Iga start their campaign to avoid relegation trouble with five points, two more than the bottom two and just one behind Belle.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Isashi Kaede, Michikura Hiroko, Miyasako Tamami, Hatanaka Miyuka, Kobayashi Misaki, Nasu Maiko (capt), Shimojo Aya, Haji Madoka, Suzuki Kaoruko, Sugita Ami, Kiyohara Marie
Subs: Sonomura Nana (Shimojo Aya, 73 mins), Matsunaga Yoshie (Suzuki Kaoruko, 81 mins), Noichi Aya (Kiyohara Marie, 84 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Molly Menchel, Matsunaga Tomoe, Shimizu Akane
Scorers: Sugita Ami (15 mins (pen), 37 mins)
Booked: Sugita Ami

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Fukumura Kanae, Takamura Chisato, Kitahara Kana, Sayama Momoko, Watanabe Ayaka, Sakaguchi Moeno, Yamada Shoko, Yamazaki Marumi, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Saeki Aya, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Takahashi Haruka (Saeki Aya, 86 mins), Nakamura Kaede (Kitahara Kana, 89 mins), Yasaka Mei (Oishi Sayaka, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie
Scorers: Oishi Sayaka (54 mins), Saeki Aya (57 mins), Kamionobe Megumi (80, 84 mins)
Booked: Sayama Momoko, Yamada Shoko


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  1 - 6  Nippon TV Beleza
(Attendance: 795)

Beleza knew that a win for Kobe would deny them top spot regardless of how well they did today, but they went about dismantling Takatsuki in a most professional mannner. They were already three goals to the good after fifteen minutes, and although Tsuboi Ayako replied after seventeen minutes Beleza simply pulled away again to record a massive victory. With victory assured long before the final whistle all attention turned to the match between Kobe and Urawa and when that game ended in stalemate the Beleza players and supporters rejoiced in their triumph.

Beleza start the Exciting Series top and will be determined to maintain control throughout. Takatsuki start level with Saitama at the bottom on three points and it is likely that the games between those two sides will determine which finishes bottom and is automatically relegated.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Takeda Arisa, Tsuboi Ayako, Sato Kaede, Akiba Yumeko, Takahashi Saki, Narumiya Yui, Torao Naomi (capt), Sakumoto Fumika, Hazuki Yuki, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Hayashi Momo (Takahashi Saki, 42 mins), Honda Saki (Akiba Yumeko, HT), Saito Toshiko (Sakumoto Fumika, 60 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Kitagawa Wakana, Yoneyama Suzumi, Enya Mari
Scorers: Tsuboi Ayako (17 mins)
Booked: Tsuboi Ayako, Torao Naomi

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Nakasato Yu, Momiki Yuka, Uetsuji Yumi, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Sumida Rin (Tanaka Mina, 63 mins), Hasegawa Yui (Uetsuji Yumi, 73 mins), Kiryu Nanase (Momiki Yuka, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo
Scorers: Sakaguchi Mizuho (7 mins), Tanaka Mina (10, 42 mins), Momiki Yuka (15, 39 mins), Nakasato Yu (90+2 mins)


INAC Kobe Leonessa  0 - 0  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 11,865)

The league's largest crowd since before the 2012 Olympics were to be disappointed as the home side, playing in Kobe for just the sixth time this season, failed to find a goal that would have won them the Regular Series. Reigning champions Urawa matched this year's title favourites and looked capable of scoring themselves of a number of occasions, with Kira Chinatsu in particular producing a number of chances. Kobe finish second and will need to keep pace with Beleza throughout the Exciting Series. Urawa finish sixth and it would be remarkable if they could retain the title with so few games to play.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Nakajima Emi, Kai Junko, Tanaka Asuna, Sameshima Aya, Ito Kanako, Ito Miki, Sawa Homare, Masuya Rika, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Kawasumi Nahomi (Ito Miki, 60 mins), Jang Selgi (Takase Megumi, 75 mins), Nakada Ayu (Ito Kanako, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Kinga Yukari, Miyake Shiori, Minamiyama Chiaki

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Norimatsu Ruka, Osafune Kana, Kohata Shiho (capt), Kitagawa Hikaru, Shibata Hanae, Naomoto Hikaru, Kishikawa Natsuki, Kato Chika, Seike Kiko, Kira Chinatsu
Subs: Nagano Fuka (Seike Kiko, 78 mins), Shiraki Akari (Kato Chika, 78 mins), Usui Rie (Kitagawa Hikaru, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Hirao Chika, Ishii Saki, Wada Naoko, Kurishima Akari
Booked: Kato Chika, Kishikawa Natsuki