Challenge League Nineteenth Round

FC Takahashi win to seal promotion play-off place

FC Takahashi Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme  2 - 1  Nittaidai Football Club Ladies
(Attendance: 270)

FC Takahashi came from behind today to beat Nittaidai and seal their place in the play-off for promotion to the Nadeshiko League. Takahashi brought Morimoto in to play in goal, while Nittaidai made five changes to their starting lineup.

Shimada Chiaki gave the visitors the lead on 28 minutes with her eighth goal this season,  following a through pass from Abe Rie. Takahashi struck back with an equaliser from Shigemasa four minutes before the break, Sugita Ami finding Shigemasa free from a free kick inside the penalty area. Shigemasa then scored just after the restart with a goal from distance, as her shot dipped and was just too high for Aoyagi to reach properly, and the unfortunate goalkeeper could only help the ball into the roof of the net.

Takahashi next travel to Setagaya looking for revenge for their home loss earlier in the season. Nittaidai have a week off before they take on Nagano at home.

FC Takahashi Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme:
Morimoto Kiyo, Takeda Arisa, Matsushita Fumiko, Muramatsu Mafuyu, Koike Ayano, Takano Saki, Shigemasa Kai, Nishikawa Asuka, Noma Fumika, Takahashi Chiho (capt), Sugita Ami
Subs: Adachi Eriko (Koike Ayano, 63 mins), Murakawa Saki (Sugita Ami, 63 mins), Tachibana Rei (Shigemasa Kai, 69 mins), Fukui Shihori (Noma Fumika, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Yamamoto Ayaka
Scorers: Shigemasa Kai (41, 46 mins)

Nittaidai Football Club Ladies:
Aoyagi Maririn, Sakurai Mayuka, Yamagata Hisami, Nagashima Hikari, Abe Rie, Shimokawa Saori (capt), Yamana Maki, Oguri Mao, Ishii Chiharu, Shimada Chiaki, Sato Minami
Subs: Uemura Shoko (Ishii Chiharu, HT), Maegami Eri (Sato Minami, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Kamimura Aya, Togashi Kaori, Fujisawa Marin
Scorers: Shimada Chiaki (28 mins)
Booked: Ishii Chiharu


Vegalta Sendai Ladies  3 - 0  Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita
(Attendance: 2,498)

A large crowd of almost 2,500 turned up in Ishinomaki to see Vegalta Sendai win again to maintain their four point lead at the top of the table, and with three games remaining it looks certain that they will win the division and be promoted automatically.

Sendai had to wait until just before half-time for the lead goal, Kakazu shooting from just outside the box and finding the top corner for her eighth goal of the season. In the second half two headed goals from corners, one each for Takahashi and Nakahara, sealed the victory. All three goals were supplied by Uetsuji Yumi.

Next up for Sendai is an away trip to Kagoshima; Shizuoka play Nagano.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Amano Misaki, Nakamura Mami (capt), Sakai Yuki, Osafune Kana, Ideue Asako, Takahashi Nana, Uetsuji Yumi, Kakazu Asuka, Kawashima Haruna, Sameshima Aya, Ito Minako
Subs: Nakahara Saori (Kawashima Haruna, 57 mins), Yasumoto Sawako (Takahashi Nana, 73 mins)
Unused subs: Saita Yuki, Yamamoto Risa, Tanaka Keiko
Scorers: Kakazu Asuka (43 mins), Takahashi Nana (55 mins), Nakahara Saori (76 mins)

Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita:
Takahashi Miharu, Nishiyama Mei, Kitaoka Chiaki, Kanefuda Anzu (capt), Ishida Risa, Kanno Mie, Suzuki Rina, Sayama Momoko, Ito Mari, Okuda Mika, Shirai Aoi
Subs: Oda Kanna (Shirai Aoi, HT), Nishigaya Yukino (Kanno Mie, 67 mins), Atsumi Yuka (Okuda Mika, 73 mins)
Unused subs: Maehara Ringo, Takahata Airi


Ehime FC Ladies  0 - 2  JFA Academy Fukushima
(Attendance: 330)

The Academy brought back five players into the starting lineup who had played in the Under-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan, while Ehime just made two changes, Mitsuhira and Onoyama replacing Osako and Sato respectively.

Masuya Rika wasted no time in adding to her considerable tally this year, netting her nineteenth of the season on twelve minutes. With seven minutes remaining Kojima Miku scored her seventh of the year to continue her impressive season.

The Academy move above schoolgirl rivals - and next opponents - Tokiwagi Gakuen into fifth on goal difference, Ehime stay seventh ahead of their clash with Bunnys.

Ehime FC Ladies:
Mitsuhira Shiori, Kushiyama Saki, Onoyama Nana, Nishigawa Sayumi, Ogawa Akari, Iwamoto Yuka, Yamashiro Miyuki, Haruyama Saori, Ogawa Manami, Akune Mana, Nakada Maiko (capt)
Subs: Niwa Mizuho (Ogawa Manami, HT), Kikuchi Riho (Niwa Mizuho, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Osako Hanako, Uesato Saki, Senba Yuna

JFA Academy Fukushima:
Asano Natsumi, Yamamori Anna, Miyake Shiori (capt), Norimatsu Ruka, Yoshitake Manami, Moriya Miyabi, Narumiya Yui, Mizutani Yuki, Kojima Miku, Sunaga Manami, Masuya Rika
Subs: Inoue Nene (Asano Natsumi, HT)
Unused subs: Mori Sayaka, Hirao Chika
Scorers: Masuya Rika (12 mins), Kojima Miku (83 mins)


AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies  1 - 1  Bunnys Kyoto SC
(Attendance: 289)

A point each, but neither side will be happy as Nagano try to escape from the bottom and Bunnys attempt to pull away from danger. Urasaki Yuka has been a bright spot for Nagano, scoring six of their twelve goals, and she scored again after 29 minutes to give her team-mates belief. On 63 minutes veteran Miura Kyoko scored her third of the season to equalise and maintain Bunnys' four point gap over Nagano, who have a game in hand.

Bunnys play Ehime on Saturday desperate for a win with JSCL just a point behind. Nagano are away to Shizuoka on Sunday.

AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies:
Matsumoto Azumi, Murayama Yuri, Tanaka Nami, Hatano Saki, Kitagawa Minamo, Hashiura Satsuki, Satou Kaede, Takagi Nao (capt), Hamagaki Kana, Uchiyama Tomoyo, Urasaki Yuka
Subs: Yamashita Mayumi (Kitagawa Minamo, 73 mins)
Unused subs: Sayama Marina, Hanabusa Misa
Scorers: Urasaki Yuka (29 mins)
Booked: Tanaka Nami, Murayama Yuri

Bunnys Kyoto SC:
Akiyama Tomomi, Hanazaki Rena, Fujino Aiko, Ii Kiyono, Sada Fumika, Ukita Kotone, Yamashita Yu, Watanabe Juri, Kinjo Keina, Miura Kyoko (capt), Miyai Mina
Subs: Fujimoto Ami (Miyai Mina, 73 mins)
Unused subs: Isashi Kaede, Hirota Yukie
Scorers: Miura Kyoko (63 mins)
Booked: Ii Kiyono, Ukita Kotone


Japan Soccer College Ladies  2 - 2  Je Vrille Kagoshima
(Attendance: 60)

Toriumi Mai kept up her sensational form with two goals in this game to record her ninth goal in seven games for JSCL. Her second on 64 minutes gave the home side a two goal lead and confidence must have been high that a victory was on the cards. Kagoshima had other plans though, and two strikes from Nakashima and Kurahara - the second just four minutes from time - rescued a point for Kagoshima who are now safe from relegation worries. JSCL remain a point behind Bunnys with two games to play. The first of those comes on the 28th against JFA Academy, Kagoshima play a week earlier against Vegalta Sendai.

Japan Soccer College Ladies:
Fukada Ayami, Hayashimoto Saki, Takahashi Sakura, Kusakari Ayako, Sakaguchi Yuki, Usui Rika, Shanou Miki, Kato Yoshimi, Sasaki Shiori, Toriumi Mai (capt), Iwasaki Manami
Subs: Toyota Yuri (Shanou Miki, 18 mins)
Unused subs: Goto Sanae, Sakai Manami, Matsumoto Hotaru, Nakayama Aoi
Scorers: Toriumi Mai (41, 64 mins)

Je Vrille Kagoshima:
Eguchi Mika, Miyazako Fumika, Kurahara Honami, Nakae Maki (capt), Hamada Erina, Shimada Naoko, Niiho Madoka, Nozaki Ayumi, Sannomiya Shiki, Nakashima Ayaka, Moriwaki Satsuki
Subs: Nijima Yuki (Shimada Naoko, 79 mins), Imanaka Yuri (Moriwaki Satsuki, 62 mins)
Unused subs: Mitsudome Kanami
Scorers: Nakashima Ayaka (68 mins), Kurahara Honami (86 mins)
Booked: Shimada Naoko