Today's result: high school Tokiwagi 11-0 Sendai Kitagami Hinomoto 2-0 Shutoku Jumonji 5-1 Kagawa Nishi Kaishi Gakuen 0-6 Teikyo Nagaoka Seisa Shonan 4-0 Chikushi Gakuen Hanasaki Tokuharu 3-0 Nihon Koku Tokaidai Fukuoka 3-1 Harima St. Capitanio 3-3 (PK4-3) Sakuyo U18 Menina 3-1 Ehime Mikan Nojima Due 1-1 (PK 4-2) Sfida Setagaya Youth Chifure Mari 0-3 Inac Leonchina Albi U18 0-4 Cerezo Girls
Nakada Maiko is another Tokiwagi alumni. In fact I believe she's one of the first notable football players from Tokiwagi, if not the first.
I completely forgot her, or I might've not known the fact itself. And two more additions for Tokiwagi graduates: Ito Miki and Shiraki Akari. Your suggestion somehow reminded me of another beautiful player; it's Ito Minako. So in this occasion, I looked for the other high school graduates. Kamimura Gakuen Ito Minako Fukumoto Miho Ariyoshi Saori Miyasako Tamami Shibata Hanae Kira Chinatsu Takara Ryoko Ueno Mami
Ito-san! Not forgotten. Last I heatd she was with Yokohama Seagulls - any clues what she is doing now? Her Ameba-blog has been quiet for a while now....
Nadeshiko Japan Goal of the year 2018 63 points Kumi Yokoyama vs Australia (AFC Cup) 1-0 53 points Yui Hasegawa vs Korea DPR (Asian Games) 2-0 36 points Mizuho Sakaguchi vs Australia (AFC Cup) 1-0 34 points Moeno Sakaguchi vs USA (ToN) 4-2 32 points Mana Iwabuchi vs Netherlands (Algarve Cup) 2-6 10 points Yuika Sugasawa vs China (Asian Games) 1-0 8 points Yuka Momiki vs Norway (Friendly) 4-0 7 points Mana Iwabuchi vs China (AFC Cup) 0-1 7 points Mina Tanaka vs Ghana (Friendly) 1-0 6 points Kumi Yokoyama vs China (AFC Cup) 2-0 6 points Rika Masuya vs Brazil (ToN) 1-2 6 points Aya Sameshima vs Ghana (Friendly) 7-1 5 points Mina Tanaka vs USA (ToN) 1-1 4 points Mina Tanaka vs New Zealand (Friendly) 1-0 3 points Yuika Sugasawa vs Korea Republic (Asian Games) 0-1 3 points Rika Masuya vs Vietnam (Asian Games) 5-0 3 points Kumi Yokoyama vs Norway (Friendly) 1-0 honorable mentions Emi Nakajima vs. Vietnam Mana Iwabuchi vs. Norway Mina Tanaka vs. New Zealand (3-1) Thank You for voting everyone!
Today's result: high school Tokiwagi 2-1 Hinomoto Jumonji 1-0 Teikyo Nagaoka Tokaidai Fukuoka 4-1 St. Capitanio Seisa Shonan 2-1 Hanasaki Tokuharu U18 Menina 2-0 Nojima Due Inac Leonchina 0-2 Cerezo Girls
Tomorrow's U18 two games are here on live. http://www.jfa.jp/match/joc_womens_2018/tv.html#ThirdPlace
Today's result: high school Semi Final Tokiwagi 2-0 Jumonji Seisa Shonan 4-0 Tokaidai Fukuoka U 18 Third Place Match Inac Leonchina 2-1 Nojima Due Final Beleza 2-1 Cerezo Girls
Transfer news (3): Yasaka Mei (Albi - Inac) Kizaki Aoi (Urawa - Chifure) Sakuramoto Naoko (Jef - Nojima) Sato Mizuka (Jef - Mynavi) Anzai Yuka (Jef - Iga) Fukasawa Risa (Jef - Chifure) Tanaka Mariko (Setagaya - Jef) Kato Shiori (Tokiwagi - Albi)
Wow, despite the fact that they signed Mariko Tanaka, I am struck by the fact that JEF lose some of their most influencial veterans from the last seasons, as Naoko Sakuramoto and Risa Fukasawa! Nojima probably wants to replace Hikari Takagi, who recently retired? Although I am not sure Naoko Sakuramoto covers the exact same role in defense. Also worth noting that Yuka Anzai goes to Iga: should she grow a good chemistry with Ami Sugita, things could become interesting.
Was watching the last two matches by Seisa Shonan, happy that my randomly selected team got into the final (and deservedly so I may say). Now I need to catch up with Tokiwagi to be able to assess their chances in the final.
Well worth mentioning: DF Ayaki Shinada (and her friends from Espanyol) held Barcelona to a goalless draw in Catalonia derby. Following that Barcelona coach was sacked. https://www.rcdespanyol.com/es/femenino/shinada/_i:1859/
45 minutes with 🇯🇵Yui Hasegawa (NTV Beleza no.14) - rising star of women's football during her Empress Cup apperance in: QF vs Vegalta Sendai, SF vs. Urawa Red's and Final match vs. INAC Kobe. Looking forward to watch her in France. #FIFAWWC #nadeshiko https://t.co/JidqrUYhCe— Rob Mikalski (@Lechus79) January 9, 2019 (video courtesy of NdsK120)
There are rumours (no more than that right now) on the NWSL boards that Nahomi Kawasumi could be going to be traded by Seattle Reign to Sky Blue FC (not a great destination, I'd say). Wonder if any buzz already arised on Japanese media about anything of the kind.
She looks like being one step upgraded. She incessantly moves with clever anticipation without the ball, takes the ball, receives the ball, sees the situation beforehand, and often makes a good decision.
I like how fast and natural Hasegawa is in slinging all kind of long direct passes around: one of her strong points for sure. Her master-piece game was the one vs Vegalta, but she was quality all the time in the other games also. Her duel with Hina Sugita in the final was very interesting (even physical at times, despite the fact they're both very technical player). But maybe the part of the video I liked best is at about 33', when you can see Yui and Mana Iwabuchi side by side talking and laughing: opponents in an important final game for their respective clubs, but still NT team-mates and, especially, good friends. That's the real spirit of Nadeshiko football that always makes me love it!
As a fan of club football I do not like this. Once the game has finished of course they should be friendly and gracious in defeat or victory. But before and during the game teams like INAC and (my team) Nojima should not give them an inch. Of course they should always play fair, which I love about the Japanese players, but they can still be tough. I really hope any team other than Beleza wins the league this year. It probably won't happen but I can only hope. I hope it is Nojima, but they need another striker, which they are not going to get. Hasegawa is class and seems to be getting better. I think she will have a big world cup.
Yesterday in Aussie-W-league the direct clash between Japanese players was scheduled. Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar ended 0-1. Both Yukari Kinga and Yuki Nagasato were on the pitch for the whole match. Right now, Nagasato's Brisbane Roar are second-placed with 9 matches played, and very likely to make play-offs; Kinga's Melbourne City, instead, are 6th-placed with 10 matches played and, despite being the reigning champions, they risk missing play-offs. Highlights of the match: https://www.w-league.com.au/video/full-time-highlights-melbourne-city-v-brisbane-roar-0
Transfer news (4): Minamiyama Chiaki (華川KSPO (S Koria) - Orca) Hamamoto Marin (Belle - Nagano) Haduki Yuki (Belle - Nagano) Ohmiya Reona (Nagano - Chifure) Yamamori Anna (Urawa - Orca) Nagashima Hikaru (Urawa - Nippatsu) Hirata Hikari (Nittaidai - Nojima) Uetsuji Yumi (Beleza - Chifure) Sumida Rin (Beleza - Mynavi) Toriumi Yuka (Beleza - Jumonji) Shiraki Akari (Urawa - Mynavi)
Anybody else watching? I looked up a couple scenes of Tokiwagi, I think I'll be rooting for Seisa still. Tokiwagi has great ball technique, and if they score there's a high possibility of beautiful goals, but I feel so far Seisa as a whole is a much better balanced team. Excited for the match!
Big pressure by Seisa so far, but Tokiwagi break through once and with a perfect cross ending in a too high header. So far it looks like Seisa will dominate possesion, with Tokiwagi potentially very dangerous on the counter (the way they were lucky to win against Hinomoto in quarter finals). Edit: And goal after FK after ~22min for Seisa Shonan! Edit 2: FK for Tokiwagi from dangerous position. Low shot and the Seisa GK holds!