Nadeshiko League Division 1 Fifteenth Round

Iga FC Kunoichi  2 - 0  AS Elfen Saitama
(Attendance: 642)

Saitama's loss today means that they were definitely be one of the four sides fighting relegation in the Exciting Series, and while Iga are ultimately likely to join them, they would start with a significant advantage. The goals came at the beginning and end of the game, Haji with her second of the season in the third minute, and Kiyohara with a goal on her first appearance this year. Saitama play JEF United on Saturday and Niigata on Tuesday; Iga face Belle on Friday and Beleza on Wednesday.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Isashi Kaede, Michikura Hiroko, Miyasako Tamami, Nasu Maiko (capt), Hatanaka Miyuka, Sugita Ami, Haji Madoka, Shimojo Aya, Suzuki Kaoruko, Gloria Douglas, Sonomura Nana
Subs: Kiyohara Marie (Gloria Douglas, 74 mins), Matsunaga Yoshie (Sonomura Nana, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Kobayashi Misaki, Molly Menchel, Noichi Aya, Matsunaga Tomoe
Scorers: Haji Madoka (3 mins), Kiyohara Marie (90 mins)

AS Elfen Saitama:
Funada Mayu, Akitaya Misato, Matsuoka Sayuri, Nara Misaki, Matsukubo Akari, Sugihara Haruna, Takano Saki, Shimokawa Saori, Nakano Rino, Azami Rie (capt), Takahashi Saori
Subs: Kitano Rie (Sugihara Haruna, 44 mins), Hagiwara Aimi (Shimokawa Saori, 59 mins), Takahashi Kaho (Takahashi Saori, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Segi Aiki


JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies  1 - 2  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 655)

A fine victory for Niigata opens the gap between themselves in sixth and Belle in seventh to four points, while JEF United look destined to finish fourth with three games remaining. Saeki Aya's opener was soon equalised by Kawamura Mari, her second goal in two games. On sixty minutes Kitahara Kana headed in a Kamionobe free kick for the winner. Niigata next face the bottom two sides: Takatsuki on Friday and Saitama on Tuesday. JEF United also play Saitama, on Saturday, and INAC Kobe on Tuesday.

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Chino Shoko, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Nishikawa Ayaka, Ueno Saki, Hosaka Nodoka, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Fukasawa Risa, Kamogawa Miho, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Ikadai Risa (Kamogawa Miho, 63 mins), Anzai Yuka (Sugasawa Yuika, 71 mins)
Unused subs: Kitsuki Yui, Wakabayashi Minori, Isokane Midori, Yanai Rina, Matsuura Nagisa
Scorers: Kawamura Mari (19 mins)

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Koganemaru Sachie, Kojima Miku, Kitahara Kana, Sayama Momoko, Watanabe Ayaka, Saito Yuri, Yamada Shoko, Yamazaki Marumi, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Saeki Aya, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Sakaguchi Moeno (Yamada Shoko, 76 mins), Yasaka Mei (Saeki Aya, 83 mins), Takahashi Haruka (Oishi Sayaka, 84 mins)
Unused subs: Fukumura Kanae, Nakamura Kaede
Scorers: Saeki Aya (11 mins), Kitahara Kana (60 mins)


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  1 - 2  Vegalta Sendai Ladies
(Attendance: 547)

Vegalta Sendai beat Takatsuki by two goals to one for the second time this season and they look almost certain to finish third in the Regular Series this season. Nakano Manami and Ono Hitomi got Sendai off to a perfect start, though Hazuki Yuki pulled a goal back to make it a close game at half-time. The home side were kept well at bay by Sendai in the second half though, and the visitors went home happy and hopeful ahead of the visit of Kobe on Friday, followed by an away trip to play Belle on Tuesday. Takatsuki are extremely unlikely to escape the bottom four, they play Niigata on Friday and Urawa on Tuesday.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Sakumoto Fumika, Sato Kaede, Takeda Arisa, Akiba Yumeko, Torao Naomi (capt), Narumiya Yui, Hazuki Yuki, Honda Saki, Saito Toshiko, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Kitagawa Wakana (Sakumoto Fumika, 43 mins), Yoshimura Midori (Saito Toshiko, 57 mins), Enya Mari (Honda Saki, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Hayashi Momo, Yoneyama Suzumi, Takahashi Saki
Scorers: Hazuki Yuki (35 mins)

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 (Ono Hitomi, 64 mins), Hamada Haruka (Takara Ryoko, 64 mins), Tahara Nozomi (Arimachi Saori, 74 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Nishikawa Asuka, Sasaki Miwa
Scorers: Nakano Manami (8 mins), Ono Hitomi (29 mins, pen)


INAC Kobe Leonessa  0 - 1  Nippon TV Beleza
(Attendance: 7,022)

Beleza dominated against INAC Kobe today in Tokushima, and would have been extremely frustrated with themselves had they not found a winning goal. Sakaguchi Mizuho scored to the relief of her team mates with sixteen minutes remaining, a trademark headed goal from a Momiki cross. Beleza are a point behind Kobe and may need to win all three of their remaining games to win the Regular Series, hoping of course, that another team can at least hold Kobe to a draw. Beleza play Urawa on Saturday and Iga on Wednesday; Kobe play Sendai on Friday and JEF United on Tuesday.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Miyake Shiori, Sameshima Aya, Ito Miki, Ito Kanako, Sawa Homare, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Masuya Rika (Takase Megumi, HT), Jang Selgi (Ito Miki, 61 mins), Nakajima Emi (Sameshima Aya, 72 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Tanaka Asuna, Saito Natsumi, Minamiyama Chiaki

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Uetsuji Yumi, Nakasato Yu, Momiki Yuka, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Hasegawa Yui (Uetsuji Yumi, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Kiryu Nanase, Sumida Rin, Arakawa Eriko
Scorers: Sakaguchi Mizuho (74 mins)


Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies  1 - 0  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 2,537)

A lone goal from Seike Kiko, her seventh of her second season, was all that Urawa needed to see off a very poor Belle side who are in severe danger of missing out on the Upper Section of the Exciting Series a year after they won the Regular Series. They play fellow strugglers Iga on Friday and then Sendai on Tuesday. Urawa play local rivals Beleza on Saturday with a home game against Takatsuki to come on Tuesday.

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Norimatsu Ruka, Osafune Kana, Kohata Shiho, Usui Rie, Shibata Hanae, Naomoto Hikaru, Kishikawa Natsuki, Kato Chika, Seike Kiko, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Ishii Saki (Kato Chika, 82 mins), Shiraki Akari (Seike Kiko, 90 mins), Kurishima Akari (Shibata Hanae, 90+3 mins)
Unused subs: Hirao Chika, Chiba Minori, Wada Naoko, Kira Chinatsu
Scorers: Seike Kiko (31 mins)

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Nakajima Chihiro, Kado Yuka, Takahashi Sachie, Mizushima Kumi, Asano Miki, Kuzuma Riyo, Miyama Aya, Kobayashi Makiko, Takahashi Chiho, Matsuoka Miki
Subs: Okubo Mai (Kuzuma Riyo, 50 mins), Hosokawa Motoyo (Kobayashi Makiko, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Mita Isayo, Taniguchi Kikumi, Kawano Saki, Kishino Sana, Tanaka Mayu