Two historical moments for female Japanese professional athletes took place in the city of Toronto today. ----- In baseball - not a sport typically covered in this thread, but one I referenced here before nonetheless - Sato Ayami played her first competitive match for the Intercounty Maple Leafs, after being welcomed to the occasion by a number of dignitaries at Dominico Field: Sato-senshu's debut (Move your mouse to reveal the content) Sato-senshu's debut (open) Sato-senshu's debut (close) Sato-senshu herself held serve in the first two innings, although the home team eventually lost by a score of 6 runs to 5. In a total lack of coincidence, the team is currently selling limited edition caps, hoodies, and men's and women's t-shirts with katakana on them via their online store! ----- Meanwhile, over at York Lions Stadium: TOR-VAN V1 (Move your mouse to reveal the content) TOR-VAN V1 (open) TOR-VAN V1 (close) Kizaki Aoi became the first Japanese soccer player to score a goal in the Northern Super League, with an 84th minute effort for AFC Toronto against Vancouver Rise FC. However, the Rise were able to get a goal back in stoppage time, resulting in a 1-1 draw as the final score.
Thing to notice: Tanaka in Utah started pretty much as advanced CM (though she later was moved back on point)... Ueki was already moved deeper into advanced central midfielder (ACM) or at best support striker, either way - behind Asseyi and Martinez Hamano play as attacking midfielder or winger Seike is set almost exclusively as winger ... which leaves only Chiba (gets 15 mins per match as sub) Ueno and Matsukubo playing as intended forwards/strikers. Well... if key Nadeshiko strikers don't practice shooting on a daily basis, then no wonder that the team constantly struggle with scoring goals (including PK's)
Fukumoto Miho to join Belle https://yunogo-belle.com/news/7920 National team history: 81 matches played (0 goals) 2002: 14th Asian Games, Busan Participation 2006: 15th Asian Games, Doha Silver Medal 2007: 5th FIFA Women's World Cup Participation 2008: 4th place at the Beijing Olympics / Winner at the 2008 East Asian Women's Football Championship 2010: 16th Asian Games (Guangzhou, China) Winner/East Asian Women's Football Championship 2010 Winner 2011 6th FIFA Women's World Cup Winner 2012 London Olympics Silver Medal 2015 7th FIFA Women's World Cup Runner-up ＼\♨️𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝑭𝑼𝑲𝑼𝑴𝑶𝑻𝑶♨️/／このたび、サンフレッチェ広島レジーナより #福元美穂 選手が加入することとなりましたので、お知らせいたします。コメント・詳細は▶︎https://t.co/6uTQ9eGAaf#岡山湯郷Belle pic.twitter.com/gwP3QAESN1— 岡山湯郷Belle (@yunogo__belle) May 12, 2025 ------------------------------------ Fujiwara Kana will be leaving Nojima https://stellakanagawa.nojima.co.jp/news/2025/250512_01.html Comment: Thank you to all the sponsors, fans and supporters who always support us. I have decided to leave the team at the end of this season. I have been with Stella for three years, and every day has been stimulating, and I have met wonderful teammates, and I am very grateful to the team for helping me grow so much. However, as a player, I still want to get better, so I have decided to challenge myself in a new environment. I have one game left as a Nojima Stella player, but I will fight with all my might for Stella and for everyone who supports me every day, so that I can be happy one last time. 🔴🔵 お知らせ━━━━━━━━#藤原加奈 選手が2024-25シーズンをもって退団することが決定しました。コメントはこちら▶︎ https://t.co/DUvWFUO1Uv正確無比な"止める・蹴る"で攻撃にアクセントを加え、昨日はゴールも決めた藤原選手。残り一戦、最後まで共に！#ノジマステラ@tnyksr2310 pic.twitter.com/GNrGpHB83b— ノジマステラ神奈川相模原【公式】 (@nojimastella) May 12, 2025 --------------------------------------- Kick off Yamanashi - Fujizakura goals vs Yamato (from 6:30) --------------------------------------- KLSL - Section 5 Nittaidai Satellite 1-3 Tsukuba --------------------------------------- FukushimaWWW followed up their 33-0 win with a 37-0 win. First 2 games and they have a +70 goal difference 初戦、33対0と衝撃のデビューを飾り地元の浪江がざわついた女子サッカーチーム「福島ウィーアー 」@Ready5ocial ですが、まあ、勝負の世界、ここから厳しい戦いが待っているよねと誰もが思っていた第２戦。結果は…37対0で勝利！サッカー… https://t.co/UDVaKcsv11 pic.twitter.com/kL0uHrNVYc— Daiju Takahashi / 高橋大就 （ノーマ・ホースヴィレッジ始めました。） (@daiju_takahashi) May 12, 2025
It's because they are so good with a ball, passing and anticipation. Plus they excel in team play and lack selfishness.
I do not know what the actual rule is. But from the other angle it looks like Takahashi got the ball, or if she did not get the ball then she was closer to it than Hijikata. Beleza seem to get these calls all the time. Last year against Niigata in a six-pointer in the battle for third Miyagawa fell over in the penalty box and Beleza went up 2-1 and won the game. It was another dive and another poor refereeing decision. Beleza always seem to have these decisions go their way. They are not going to lose to JEF next week, but if would make laugh if they drew or lost the game due to a dodgy penalty.
Toko Koga nominated for Johan Cruijff award. 𝐍𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝! 😍ノミネートを発表！古賀塔子選手が、2024-2025年シーズンのヨハン・クライフ賞にノミネートされました！✨ pic.twitter.com/n7wExcaAsC— Feyenoord V1 (@FeyenoordV1) May 13, 2025 Miku Kojima (née Ito) scored her first goal for Granada (90th min).
I've watched it from both angles and can't see Takahashi touching the ball. Striking the ball is a very dangerous moment for a player to be interfered with: bounced, blocked, etc.. due to huge force put into her leg swing. I'm not an expert but I expect rules protect the striker and her striking leg from serious injury. For me it's both a well-deserved penalty and MSF (most spectacular fall) prize for Hijikata.
As a follow-up to my prior post: in the post-match press conference from last weekend's match agaisnt the Rise, AFC Toronto's manager gave his views about Kizaki-senshu's current place in the team: As a reminder, this Saturday's match between AFC and the Tides has the potential of seeing both Kizaki-senshu and Nakamura-senshu on the pitch at the same time!
The Everton women's team is going to get Everton's old stadium (Goodison Park). The men's team is moving to a new stadium next season and the old ground was scheduled to be torn down, but will now become the decidated home of the women's team. https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...s-with-it-set-to-become-home-of-everton-women ..
Seems there was a bit of a shake-up on how the outstanding awards is working. The winners have been announced already. No more two players/club. The Best XI and the MVP will be chosen from this pool of players. ／2024-25 WEリーグ 優秀選手賞32名をご紹介🎖️＼最優秀選手賞、ベストイレブンの受賞者は、5月19日(月)に開催する「2024-25 WEリーグアウォーズ」において優秀選手賞受賞者の中から選出され表彰を行います✨️詳細はこちら⏬️https://t.co/PVnLmTba27#WEリーグアウォーズ #WEリーグ… https://t.co/uJ36XaRLeZ pic.twitter.com/HwoIwJCckg— WEリーグ｜日本女子プロサッカーリーグ (@WE_League_JP) May 14, 2025 Not as easy as last season to guess who's gonna win the MVP award.
Given the history of the MVP I imagine Kawasumi is favorite. I am joking but it would not surprise me if she won it. I know the players and the coaches vote for these players, but I wonder if the players can only vote for players on other teams. It is quite interesting to see who they vote for. I actually do not have too man issues with the defenders, but I think Kishi for Elfen should be in there, because she is one of the best defenders in the league in my opinion. She has been very good this season. The midfielders and strikers are a lot more problematic for me. I love Shibata, but she has been poor this season by her standards. Then there is Kawasumi, Mizuno, Matsunaga and Nakashima. They have all been pretty underwhelming, though Matsunaga has had her moments. But the rest are fine in my opinion. I still think Riko Yoshida of Elfen is unlucky not be named, but after that I can not think of any glaring omissions.
From the games that I was able to watch, my top 3 (in no particular order) and without choosing players from the same team : Ide, Yamamoto, Takikawa. In the past 2 seasons, Takikawa has been more exciting and decisive than Nakashima. I hope that she will be called for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in July.
The 12 nominees for the Best Young Player Award have been revealed. 2024-25 WEリーグベストヤングプレーヤー賞🎖️受賞候補選手をピックアップ✅️2024-25 WEリーグアウォーズはWEリーグ公式YouTubeチャンネルにて配信📡🎖️2024-25 WEリーグアウォーズ📅5月19日(月)🕠17時30分～19時(予定)📺WEリーグ公式YouTubeチャンネル… pic.twitter.com/ilo34wUpOX— WEリーグ｜日本女子プロサッカーリーグ (@WE_League_JP) May 15, 2025 Come on, give it to Shinjo
AFC Cup Futsal semi-final 5' JPN 2 - 0 IRN Good start by Japan taking a lead 2-0 after only 5 mins... but also costly as Egawa (no. 9) picked up tourney ending injury (either torn or strained muscle).
5 mins into 2nd half Iran pulled one goal back, it's 2-1 9 mins into 2nd half Japan retakes 2 goal lead, it's 3-1 11 mins into 2nd half, Iran takes goalie out, plays 5v4 field players, buys free kick in front of JPN goal and scores, it's 3-2
Japan 3 - 2 Iran FT Japan advance to the final game against Thailand and books the ticket to World Cup in Philippines. Iran will play with Australia for last WWC ticket in 3rd place match. Fingers crossed for Egawa to come back from todays injury before WWC in November.
I've no clue about futsal, but in FIFA ranking Japan is 10th while Poland 14th, so draw would be good result I guess.