Official 2021 Nadeshiko Japan Thread [R] - なでしこジャパン（英語スレッド）

I recognize at least the name of Fabiola Sandoval from the U-20 NT that we trashed at WWC 2018. She was by far the best player in that team, that was anyway a very weak one compared to the other teams in their group (Japan, Spain and USA).

 

If Iga retained most of their players, I predict an easy dominance for them in Nadeshiko League 1.

 

The league's derby Inter-Milan (not the 2nd leg of the Coppia Italia match) is going to start live on dailymotion.

Of course, Hasegawa has become a locked-up starter (again in a 3-5-2 line-up):

 

Inter-Milan 1-3 at HT.

Despite the fact that she won a PK and had an assist, I keep thinking that Dowie's finishing leaves much to be desired, at least for a striker like her. She scores, sure, but she uses to need at least 4-5 good chances to finally bury one.

Luckily, Milan has got a much more prolific an accurate striker in Valentina Giacinti, who scored an hat-trick in 1st Half (and picked up a Yellow Card for taking off her shirt to celebrate third goal ).

Hasegawa is doing her part on the Right-Side (not sure why she's playing there: she's more effective on the Left, in my opinion), but didn't particulary shine so much.

 

4th goal for Giacinti. Assist from... Yui Hasegawa!

Yui started the action and followed it in the box where she turned and flicked a wonderful short touch for her captain.

 

Inter-Milan 1-4 FT.

Hasegawa was subbed-out at 89'. She had a good shot and the assist for Giacinti's 4th goal in 2nd Half. Usual good game for her.

Milan kept their 5 points advantage over Sassuolo and are 3 points behind Juventus (going to play Pink Bari, with 99% chances to win against the last-placed team of Serie A Femminile).

Now Italian Legue will have a 2 weeks break.

 

Highlights of the match: enjoy in particular the three different Hasegawa's touches in the action of 4th goal, including the final assist, when she stops the ball with her left foot, turns, and flicks the short pass to Giacinti with her right foot (talk about playing with both feet : how many other players would have controlled the ball so comfortably, especially after having started the action and speed-running in the box?).




Bonus random Hasegawa's pic of the day:




In other news, it looks like Madrid gives and Madrid takes: last week Sporting Huelva and Yoko Tanaka had won by 1-0 vs Atletico Madrid, today they lose with the same score to Madrid CFF.

 

Meanwhile, yesterday Aston Villa lost to Chelsea by 0-2, with a brace by Sam Kerr: these are not the kind of games where Aston Vllla can pick up any points. Mana Iwabuchi started and was subbed-out at 78'.

In USA, there was a friendly pre-season match between Washington Spirit and Sky Blue FC, that ended 1-2 for Sky Blue. I am not sure if Yokoyama, Takarada or Kawasumi did play, but I'll try to know.

 

Nahomi Kawasumi started the game and was subbed-out at 60'. Kumi Yokoyama and Saori Takarada were subbed-in at HT. Neither of them did score.