Nadeshiko League Division 1 Fourteenth Round

Okayama Yunogo Belle  0 - 1  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 1,728)

The home side were remarkably poor today and for the second time this season were beaten by a better JEF United side, who finally found the net with eight minutes remaining. The goal came from Kawamura Mari, her first this year, when she headed in a corner from Ikadai Risa.

JEF United are well clear in fourth place, and should have no trouble staying out of the bottom four, which is headed by Belle and whom remain in difficulty. JEF United play Niigata next weekend; Belle face champions Urawa - the four sides occupy places four to seven in the table.

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: Hosokawa Motoyo (Asano Miki, 79 mins), Okubo Mai (Kuzuma Riyo, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Mita Isayo, Taniguchi Kikumi, Kawano Saki, Kishino Sana, Tanaka Mayu

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Wakabayashi Minori, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Nishikawa Ayaka, Ueno Saki, Hosaka Nodoka, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Fukasawa Risa, Kamogawa Miho, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Anzai Yuka (Hosaka Nodoka, HT), Ikadai Risa (Kamogawa Miho, 66 mins), Yanai Rina (Fukasawa Risa, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Isokane Midori, Chino Shoko, Ozawa Hiro
Scorers: Kawamura Mari (82 mins)
Booked: Nishikawa Ayaka


Albirex Niigata Ladies  0 - 1  INAC Kobe Leonessa
(Attendance: 1,709)

A seventh goal in seven games for Takase Megumi was all that leaders INAC Kobe needed to see off Niigata, move four points clear at the top and remain on course to finish top at the end of the Regular Series. Next up for INAC are Beleza, and a victory against their nearest rivals will almost certainly be enough to see them ultimately stay clear. Niigata are away to JEF United.

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, 70 mins), Yasaka Mei (Yamazaki Marumi, 73 mins), Kubota Mayu (Saeki Aya, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Fukumura Kanae, Nakamura Kaede, Takahashi Haruka, Kodama Keiko
Booked: Watanabe Ayaka

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Saito Natsumi, Miyake Shiori, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ito Kanako, Sawa Homare, Masuya Rika, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Nakajima Emi (Saito Natsumi, HT), Jang Selgi (Takase Megumi, 66 mins), Minamiyama Chiaki (Masuya Rika, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Tanaka Asuna, Ito Miki
Scorers: Takase Megumi (11 mins)
Booked: Ohno Shinobu


Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies  2 - 0  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 1,893)

Having lost three of their last four games, Urawa recovered to beat Iga for the second time this season, though the fact that all five of their wins have come against the bottom three show how far they have fallen behind the leading teams this season. The goals came from captain Goto Michi in the first half and from Seike Kiko in the second. Urawa play Belle in a must-win game next week; Iga face Saitama in a likewise crucial meeting.

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: Kurishima Akari (Kato Chika, 84 mins), Ishii Saki (Kishikawa Natsuki, 90 mins), Shiraki Akari (Seike Kiko, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Hirao Chika, Wada Naoko, Nagano Fuka, Kira Chinatsu
Scorers: Goto Michi (19 mins), Seike Kiko (50 mins)

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Isashi Kaede, Michikura Hiroko, Miyasako Tamami, Hatanaka Miyuka, Nasu Maiko (capt), Shimojo Aya, Haji Madoka, Sugita Ami, Suzuki Kaoruko, Sonomura Nana, Gloria Douglas
Subs: Matsunaga Yoshie (Suzuki Kaoruko, 74 mins), Noichi Aya (Michikura Hiroko, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Matsunaga Tomoe, Kiyohara Marie


AS Elfen Saitama  1 - 3  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 418)

Azami Rie gave Saitama the lead after just a few seconds, but Takatsuki responded superbly to win today and move three points clear of the bottom, enough to give them another point in the Exciting Series, with both sides almost guaranteed to compete in the lower section. Tsuboi Ayako equalised after a quarter of an hour, a penalty from Saito gave Takatsuki the lead and a third from Honda sealed the victory for the financially-beleagured club. They next host Vegalta Sendai; Saitama are away to Iga.

AS Elfen Saitama:
Funada Mayu, Segi Aiki, Matsuoka Sayuri, Nara Misaki, Matsukubo Akari, Sugihara Haruna, Takano Saki, Hagiwara Aimi, Kitano Rie, Azami Rie (capt), Takahashi Saori
Subs: Orita Aya (Sugihara Haruna, HT), Shimokawa Saori (Kitano Rie, 57 mins), Nakano Rino (Hagiwara Aimi, 79 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Akitaya Misato, Otani Erina, Takahashi Kaho
Scorers: Azami Rie (1 min)
Booked: Funada Mayu

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Sato Kaede, Takeda Arisa, Akiba Yumeko, Honda Saki, Narumiya Yui, Torao Naomi (capt), Hazuki Yuki, Saito Toshiko, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Takahashi Saki (Saito Toshiko, 67 mins), Sakumoto Fumika (Takahashi Saki, 83 mins), Enya Mari (Maruyama Karina, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Hayashi Momo
Scorers: Tsuboi Ayako (15 mins), Saito Toshiko (49 mins, pen), Honda Saki (56 mins)
Booked: Sato Kaede, Tsuboi Ayako


Nippon TV Beleza  5 - 2  Vegalta Sendai Ladies
(Attendance: 1,309)

Vegalta Sendai went into halftime a goal to the good but a four-goal blitz in the second half saw Beleza home with a lot to spare. Nakasato Yu, starting her first game this season, scored in both halves and it was two of Beleza's other young players who shone: Tanaka Mina and Momiki Yuka. Next week Beleza have another chance to face INAC Kobe, whom they beat earlier in the season. Vegalta Sendai also hope for a repeat victory of their own against Takatsuki.

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Nakasato Yu, Uetsuji Yumi, Hasegawa Yui, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Momiki Yuka (Hasegawa Yui, 38 mins), Arakawa Eriko (Tanaka Mina, 82 mins), Kiryu Nanase (Uetsuji Yumi, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Kinoshita Shiori, Toriumi Yuka
Scorers: Nakasato Yu (14, 62 mins), Tanaka Mina (46 mins), Momiki Yuka (52, 69 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: Yasumoto Sawako (Arimachi Saori, 66 mins), Inoue Ayaka (Ono Hitomi, 66 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Tahara Nozomi, Sasaki Miwa
Scorers: Sakai Yuki (37 mins), Kawamura Yuri (40 mins)