It's back?! That's good. And it looks like most games are live: Iga FC v INAC Kobe - (Saturday, 07:00 GMT / 16:00 JST) www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2yUno6KnT8 (Other kickoffs one hour apart) JEF United v Urawa Red Diamonds www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfSiwvNMZs8 Cerezo Osaka v Ehime www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7bw9Bttc5M ^ The promoted teams of 2019 clash in their first game of 2020. (Live streams are on the Nadeshiko League channel) In New Zealand, two players from Japan are at Western Springs AFC in the northern league, and they're even quite famous (..on the Nadeshiko forum). I finally got to see their match and a goal last week. Rina Hirano, who signed earlier for Inac and did well at Orca Kamogawa, went to NZ for the 2019 season. So did Arisa Takeda, who was last mentioned playing at Japanese 1st division clubs. Hirano played in Australia in 2018, at Bayside United in the Victoria state league. In 2019 I didn't follow their club but it looks like both players did well individually - Hirano scored twice in a 5-2 win v Glenfield, the eventual runners-up. Western Springs finished only 7th of 8 teams in the northern premier division, but they also reached the national Kate Sheppard Cup quarter-final, losing to Hamilton Wanderers. https://www.sporty.co.nz/firstkicks/newsarticle/78217 (Archive) At the game I saw, Arisa Takeda was one of the best on the field, a right-back who's also responsible for corner-kicks and free-kicks on that side - she hardly made a misstep all match, and she hit Western Springs' only goal with a deflection in a 2-1 loss. Hirano started out as centre-forward, but soon dropped back to AM, which didn't seem to suit her so well. I'll tell you if I find out more - this season looks like another relegation battle for the club, and no national cup in 2020 as it was cancelled. Our own @scousekiwi writes the best match reports, including the team's 5 July match. If you're wondering why Hirano and Takeda are only playing in a regional league - there is a national women's league here from September to December, but (I think) it only has NZ players.
Background sound is good, but I have to admit that I would appreciate some comments, even if I understand very few Japanese.
FT: Iga 0 INAC 1 Well, not the most exciting match in history (although I'll admit I missed some portions of it) but it's nice and good that Nadeshiko League is back (and that INAC wins! ). Maybe the other match was more interesting (or at least more funny to watch) since I hear that Urawa is winning by 0-3 vs JEF at half time, with goals by Seike, Naomoto and Sugasawa.
By the way, do we get highlights of the games anywhere? (I am aware that we have the full matches on YouTube, but maybe you could want to only watch the signinficant actions of some games).
One hard year of work in Germany was needed to her. Jokes apart: I am quite sure that the more NT players we send overseas (France, Germany, USA, you name it), the more likely we'll get a generation on the same level as the 2011 World Champions.
I scoured Nadeshiko League's website, and I found some minor changes in Challenge League (that's anyway scheduled to start quite late in August): apparently NGU Loveledge Nagoya has been moved from West Division to East Division (I assume it geographically makes sense), while relegated Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita has changed its old glorious name, turning into something along the lines of Shizuoka SSU Regina (if my translator did well ). Since we were talking about Naomoto: after lingering in limbo for some years, Fukuoka J Anclas finally came back to Challenge League. If I remember correctly, it was the club where Hikaru started her career, and she was playing in 1st Division with them in the year of the 2011 World Cup.
Today's result: Nadeshiko League Iga 0-1 Inac (Tanaka) Jef (Kamogawa, Ohsawa) 2-4 Urawa (Seike, Naomoto, Sugasawa 2) Cerezo (Yakata, Hayashi, Takarada) 3-2 Ehime (Sato, Ueno) Nadeshiko League 2 Nittaidai (Mehara) 1-1 Yamato (OG) Bunnys (Hayashi) 1-3 Harima (Chiba 3)
Good for you, but not too much for me But I think a draw would have been a more fair result, the only problem I see in my Kunoichi is the weak they seem in attack, and that against an oposition like Inac is a great disadvantage. PS: I watched the game and I sorry to say that I only know a few players on the pitch, and any of them are of Iga, so I want to know if there is some kind of guide like fullbloom to know the players.
I watched this game. Urawa looked good in the first half, and were controlling play with Shibata and Naomoto in midfield. The goals Urawa scored were also very good, but Yamane should have done better with the third goal and she completely bottled the fourth. If she saves the third and fourth goals Jef get a draw. She did make some good saves. Jef were bad in the first half. But in the second half Jef played much better, because Uruawa got tired and the manager brought on Kamogawa who helped Narumiya in midfield. Last year Jef pressed really well, but they weren't so good in the first half, but they improved in the second half and their first goal came from good pressing. Seriously, whenever I see Yui Narumiya play, she plays well. She is a very good player in my opinion, but I doubt she will ever get a call up to Nadeshiko. I would like to be proven wrong on that.
Wow, Sonoko Chiba started the season very well! I would like to see Narumiya play to this level with enough continuity to get a call too, but by now I more or less gave up on her.
Since they keep the full matches on youtube we can easily share and collect timestamped links (it's a right click away) of all the interesting parts (bonus point for posting them as comment on youtube as well for others to enjoy ). As an example here's the build up leading to INAC goal, a failed press by Iga leads to a quick attack: Link https://youtu.be/f2yUno6KnT8?t=5058 Edit: Meh, this board automatically turns it into a media embed that removes the timestamp, so helpful. Specifically include it as link instead to avoid that.
Ehime played really smart for 60 minutes but ulitmatelly run out of fuel in latter parts of 2nd half. Behind Cerezo's comeback (among others) are two standing out players: Hayashi and Takarada. They really pushed their teammates for the win. With three other U20 WWC Champions also playing for Cerezo, this club maybe well worth to watch for the future. I wouldn't be surprised if aim in Osaka is to join WE League.
I watch this perfectly weighted pass made by Iwabuchi combined with precise timed run by Tanaka and it makes me when I think about shape of their on pitch chemistry in NT around next year Olympics.
Today's games: Nadeshiko League Mynavi vs Albi 17:00 Beleza vs Nojima 18:00 Nadeshiko League 2 Nippatsu vs Orca 15:00 Nagano vs Chifure 16:00 Jumonji vs Setagaya 18:00