Nadeshiko League Exciting Series Third Round

Upper Section

INAC Kobe Leonessa  2 - 4  Vegalta Sendai Ladies
(Attendance: 5,049)

A tremendous result for Vegalta Sendai in Kumamoto has given them hope of at least a second-place finish, which would their highest ever. INAC Kobe's form has collapsed and they are now almost certainly out of the title race. Sendai missed some early chances but good play down the left led to the lead goal for Kakazu Asuka, returned to the starting XI for this match. Fine play and a powerful shot from Arimachi Saori gave Sendai a two-goal cushion at half-time.

Michigami Ayaka, who has played very little for Kobe since moving from Tokiwagi Gakuen High School in 2013, pulled a goal back eight minutes after half-time. Nakano Manami restored Sendai's lead and the two sides traded two final goals, with Chiba Kozue scoring her first league goal and Masuya Rika scoring her seventh for Kobe.

Vegalta Sendai play Albirex Niigata on Sunday when they will already know if they can still win the league. INAC Kobe play Urawa on Tuesday.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Nakajima Emi, Miyake Shiori, Tanaka Asuna, Sugita Hina, Ito Miki, Sawa Homare, Ito Kanako, Michigami Ayaka, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Masuya Rika
Subs: Kinga Yukari (Ito Miki, HT), Kawasumi Nahomi (Sugita Hina, HT), Takase Megumi (Ohno Shinobu, 69 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Kai Junko, Minamiyama Chiaki, Nakada Ayu
Scorers: Michigami Ayaka (53 mins), Masuya Rika (77 mins)
Booked: Miyake Shiori

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Takenaka Rei, Sakai Yuki, Yamamoto Risa, Chiba Kozue, Takara Ryoko, Kakazu Asuka (capt), Sasaki Mayu, Kawamura Yuri, Nakano Manami, Inoue Ayaka, Arimachi Saori
Subs: Ono Hitomi (Inoue Ayaka, 69 mins), Yasumoto Sawako (Kakazu Asuka, 81 mins), Tahara Nozomi (Takara Ryoko, 90+3 mins)
Unused subs: Saito Ayaka, Takahashi Nana, Sasaki Miwa, Hamada Haruka
Scorers: Kakazu Asuka (20 mins), Arimachi Saori (43 mins), Nakano Manami (65 mins), Chiba Kozue (73 mins)


Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies  4 - 4  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 1,614)

An extraordinary match in Saitama in which JEF United scored four goals in twelve minutes to turn a two-goal half-time deficit into a two-goal lead, but with ten minutes remaining Urawa found a second wind and themselves scored twice to pick up a point. This result means that Urawa cannot retain the title regardless of what happens elsewhere though they will relish taking on INAC Kobe Leonessa on Tuesday, November 3rd. JEF United have picked up three draws from their first three games and will likewise try their obstinate best against Beleza on Saturday.

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Norimatsu Ruka, Osafune Kana, Kohata Shiho, Usui Rie, Shibata Hanae, Naomoto Hikaru, Kishikawa Natsuki, Kato Chika, Kira Chinatsu, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Nagano Fuka (Kato Chika, 64 mins), Ishii Saki (Kishikawa Natsuki, 65 mins), Shiraki Akari (Goto Michi, 70 mins)
Unused subs: Hirao Chika, Suzuki Rina, Wada Naoko, Kurishima Akari
Scorers: Kira Chinatsu (5, 80 mins), Osafune Kana (31 mins), Naomoto Hikaru (84 mins)

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Chino Shoko, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Isokane Midori, Ueno Saki, Hosaka Nodoka, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Fukasawa Risa, Ikadai Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kamogawa Miho (Ikadai Risa, 35 mins), Anzai Yuka (Hosaka Nodoka, 86 mins), Ozawa Hiro (Fukasawa Risa, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Wakabayashi Minori, Nishikawa Ayaka, Yanai Rina
Scorers: Sugasawa Yuika (52 mins), Sakuramoto Naoko (57 mins), Fukasawa Risa (60, 63 mins)
Booked: Sakuramoto Naoko


Albirex Niigata Ladies  1 - 2  Nippon TV Beleza
(Attendance: 1,724)

A very late last-gasp winner from Sakaguchi Mizuho, a trademark headed goal, may be the goal which wins the Nadeshiko League title for Beleza, their thirteenth altogether and first since 2010. Tanaka Mina put Beleza into the lead just before half-time, but Yamazaki Marumi, the Exciting Series' top scorer equalised just before the hour mark to keep Niigata in with a chance.

Beleza's win today puts them four points clear and a win over JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies on Saturday will win them the league title. A draw means they will have to see if a victor emerges from the Sendai-Niigata match on Sunday: a draw there would lead to their victory.

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: Kubota Mayu (Saeki Aya, 81 mins), Yasaka Mei (Oishi Sayaka, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Takamura Chisato, Yamamoto Arina, Takahashi Haruka, Saito Yuri
Scorers: Yamazaki Marumi (59 mins)

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Uetsuji Yumi, Nakasato Yu, Hasegawa Yui, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Sumida Rin (Muramatsu Tomoko, 33 mins), Kiryu Nanase (Sumida Rin, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Doko Mayo, Shimada Chiaki
Scorers: Tanaka Mina (43 mins), Sakaguchi Mizuho (90+4 mins)


Lower Section

Iga FC Kunoichi  0 - 1  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 565)

Maruyama Karina doesn't score many goals these days, but her second of the season today was enough to take all three points home to Takatsuki, and with them her side move to within two points of the leaders, though they are still level on points with bottom side Saitama, who next face Iga. Takatsuki travel to Okayama to face a Belle side without a win in the Exciting Series.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Michikura Hiroko, Miyasako Tamami, Nasu Maiko (capt), Hatanaka Miyuka, Matsunaga Tomoe, Haji Madoka, Suzuki Kaoruko, Meleana Shim, Kiyohara Marie, Sugita Ami
Subs: Noichi Aya (Matsunaga Tomoe, HT), Sonomura Nana (Kiyohara Marie, HT), Ogawa Shiho (Suzuki Kaoruko, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Kobayashi Misaki, Shimizu Akane, Matsunaga Yoshie

Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Takeda Arisa, Sato Kaede, Akiba Yumeko, Narumiya Yui, Yoshimura Midori, Torao Naomi, Saito Toshiko, Honda Saki, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Enya Mari (Saito Toshiko, 64 mins), Hayashi Momo (Enya Mari, 78 mins)
Unused subs: Ueno Yukiko, Hirano Satoko, Sakanaka Mio
Scorers: Maruyama Karina (35 mins)


AS Elfen Saitama  1 - 1  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 578)

A dramatic late equaliser scored by Elizabeth Eddy in only her second appearance for Belle keeps them on top of the Lower Section with three of the six games played. Sarah Gregorius' second goal of the season for Saitama had given them early hope of all three points and they will have been horrified to concede so late in the game. As things stand, they are bottom of the division, though are only two points behind Belle. They next play Iga at home; Belle host Takatsuki.

AS Elfen Saitama:
Sakuragi Ayana, Segi Aiki, Abby Erceg, Nara Misaki, Matsukubo Akari, Anna Green, Azami Rie (capt), Takano Saki, Nakano Rino, Sarah Gregorius, Takahashi Saori
Subs: Sugihara Haruna (Takahashi Saori, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Funada Mayu, Akitaya Misato, Matsuoka Sayuri, Hagiwara Aimi, Kitano Rie, Takahashi Kaho
Scorers: Sarah Gregorius (23 mins)

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Nakajima Chihiro, Kado Yuka, Takahashi Sachie, Mizushima Kumi, Asano Miki, Kuzuma Riyo, Miyama Aya, Kobayashi Makiko, Matsuoka Miki, Takahashi Chiho
Subs: Elizabeth Eddy (Asano Miki, HT), Hosokawa Motoyo (Kobayashi Makiko, 82 mins)
Unused subs: Mita Isayo, Hashimoto Shoko, Okubo Mai, Kishino Sana, Tanaka Mayu
Scorers: Elizabeth Eddy (90+2 mins)