Nadeshiko League Exciting Series First Round

Upper Section

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies  1 - 1  INAC Kobe Leonessa
(Attendance: 1,830)

A fine display from Yamane Erina in the JEF United goal kept Kobe at bay in this tense match, which saw both sides stay in the hunt for the title for at least another week. Nakajima Emi opened the scoring for Kobe, but the top division's leading scorer Sugasawa Yuika equalised soon after. Neither side can afford to lose a game, and Kobe should be confident of victory over Niigata at home on Sunday. At the same time JEF United visit Sendai, where they had a very easy three-goal victory on the final day of the Regular Series.

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Chino Shoko, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Isokane Midori, Wakabayashi Minori, Hosaka Nodoka, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Fukasawa Risa, Ikadai Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kamogawa Miho (Ikadai Risa, HT), Yanai Rina (Setoguchi Kozue, 71 mins), Anzai Yuka (Hosaka Nodoka, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Kitsuki Yui, Yasuda Saki, Nishikawa Ayaka, Shimada Ayako
Scorers: Sugasawa Yuika (33 mins)

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Tanaka Asuna, Sameshima Aya, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ito Miki, Sawa Homare, Nakajima Emi, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Masuya Rika (Takase Megumi, 65 mins), Jang Selgi (Sameshima Aya, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Miyake Shiori, Minamiyama Chiaki, Ito Kanako
Scorers: Nakajima Emi (27 mins)


Nippon TV Beleza  2 - 0  Vegalta Sendai Ladies
(Attendance: 871)

A two-goal victory for Beleza at home to Vegalta Sendai moves the Tokyo side three points clear at the top and already they are favourites to take the title. For quite some time Beleza clung to slender lead courtesy of a lone goal from Ariyoshi Saori, but a second from substitute Hasegawa Yui finally saw off the Sendai challenge. Beleza face champions Urawa full of determination to stay on top; Vegalta Sendai must beat JEF United to remain in the hunt.

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Uetsuji Yumi, Momiki Yuka, Nakasato Yu, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Sumida Rin (Shimizu Risa, HT), Hasegawa Yui (Uetsuji Yumi, 65 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Kiryu Nanase, Toriumi Yuka, Shimada Chiaki
Scorers: Ariyoshi Saori (36 mins), Hasegawa Yui (85 mins)
Booked: Uetsuji Yumi, Hara Natsuko

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Takenaka Rei, Sakai Yuki, Yamamoto Risa, Chiba Kozue, Takara Ryoko, Kakazu Asuka (capt), Sasaki Mayu, Kawamura Yuri, Nakano Manami, Ono Hitomi, Arimachi Saori
Subs: Inoue Ayaka (Ono Hitomi, 63 mins), Hamada Haruka (Arimachi Saori, 76 mins), Yasumoto Sawako (Kakazu Asuka, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Takahashi Nana, Tahara Nozomi, Sasaki Miwa


Albirex Niigata Ladies  3 - 1  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 1,012)

A very fine win for Niigata, with two goals coming from Kamionobe Megumi, moves them up into third and sparks hope among their players that they can capture the title for the first time. Urawa, for whom the only consolation was a late strike from Goto Michi, are now very unlikely to retain their title and anything but a win against Beleza next week would effectively end their chances. Niigata travel to Kobe in high spirits, though a loss for them would likewise be disastrous.

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Fukumura Kanae, Kojima Miku, Kitahara Kana, Nakamura Kaede, Watanabe Ayaka, Sakaguchi Moeno, Yamada Shoko, Saeki Aya, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Yamazaki Marumi, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Takahashi Haruka (Saeki Aya, 73 mins), Saito Yuri (Sakaguchi Moeno, 73 mins), Kubota Mayu (Oishi Sayaka, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Takamura Chisato, Yamamoto Arina, Yasaka Mei
Scorers: Yamazaki Marumi (7 mins), Kamionobe Megumi (17, 36 mins)

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Norimatsu Ruka, Osafune Kana, Kohata Shiho, Kitagawa Hikaru, Kira Chinatsu, Shibata Hanae, Kishikawa Natsuki, Kato Chika, Seike Kiko, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Nagano Fuka (Kira Chinatsu, 35 mins), Shiraki Akari (Kato Chika, HT), Usui Rie (Kitagawa Hikaru, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Hirao Chika, Ishii Saki, Wada Naoko, Kurishima Akari
Scorers: Goto Michi (89 mins)


Lower Section

Iga FC Kunoichi  1 - 0  AS Elfen Saitama
(Attendance: 437)

A critical win for Iga on the opening day of the Exciting Series, with Matsunaga Yoshie picking an opportune moment to score her first goal of the season. Both sides started with their new incoming players from overseas in a tight battle. Iga are now top of the Lower Section and face Belle next weekend, a day after Saitama host Takatsuki, one point ahead of them.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Michikura Hiroko, Miyasako Tamami, Nasu Maiko (capt), Hatanaka Miyuka, Matsunaga Tomoe, Meleana Shim, Suzuki Kaoruko, Matsunaga Yoshie, Sugita Ami, Kiyohara Marie
Subs: Noichi Aya (Matsunaga Tomoe, HT), Sonomura Nana (Matsunaga Yoshie, 80 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Isashi Kaede, Kobayashi Misaki, Shimizu Akane
Scorers: Matsunaga Yoshie (45 mins)
Booked: Hatanaka Miyuka

AS Elfen Saitama:
Sakuragi Ayana, Segi Aiki, Abby Erceg, Nara Misaki, Akitaya Misato, Azami Rie (capt), Nakano Rino, Anna Green, Takano Saki, Takahashi Saori, Sarah Gregorius
Subs: Sugihara Haruna (Nakano Rino, 65 mins)
Unused subs: Funada Mayu, Matsuoka Sayuri, Matsukubo Akari, Hagiwara Aimi, Otani Erina, Orita Aya
Booked: Anna Green


Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki  2 - 2  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 694)

Twice Takatsuki led in this crucial opening game of the Exciting Series and they will surely have felt that they had all three points in their grasp when Narumiya Yui scored two minutes from time to restore the lead they had taken in the first half. Miyama Aya was Belle's saviour, scoring the first equaliser with twenty minutes remaining and the second deep into stoppage time. Belle play leaders Iga next, Takatsuki travel to Saitama determined to stay ahead.

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Takeda Arisa, Sato Kaede, Akiba Yumeko, Honda Saki, Yoshimura Midori, Torao Naomi (capt), Hazuki Yuki, Narumiya Yui, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Sakumoto Fumika (Hazuki Yuki, 45 mins), Enya Mari (Honda Saki, 87 mins), Takahashi Saki (Maruyama Karina, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Hayashi Momo, Yoneyama Suzumi, Kitagawa Wakana
Scorers: Honda Saki (30 mins), Narumiya Yui (88 mins)
Booked: Sato Kaede, Takahashi Saki

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: Kishino Sana (Asano Miki, 64 mins), Tanaka Mayu (Kobayashi Makiko, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Mita Isayo, Taniguchi Kikumi, Hosokawa Motoyo, Hashimoto Shoko, Okubo Mai
Scorers: Miyama Aya (70 mins (pen), 90+3 mins)
Booked: Tanaka Mayu