Japan's Nadeshiko League

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Comment by Ken Suzuki on May 5, 2013 at 3:07

Yes. The difference between the 2 games, against NTV and Kobe, is that NTV's midfield, Hara in particular, did very well to control the ball. This time, Urawa showed improvement, against Kobe's much more formidable trio -- Sawa, Soyun, Minamiyama. The movements of Fujita, Wada, Sakamoto may not look impressively athletic, but were well-planned and organized. How many times Kobe's passing was cut at vital point?

True that Kobe had a couple of scoring opportunities immediately after kickoff and they might have scored at early minutes if Bev, instead of Michigami, was there. But Urawa regained control after.

But what is lowest viewed in this game is the quality of referee.

Comment by Dennis Barton on May 4, 2013 at 19:13

My feelings were different to those of Gromit's.  I thought it was much more spirited performance from Urawa than the one we saw against Beleza.  3-0 was flattering to INAC and they were just about worthy of a 1-0 win. Although it wasn't the case last week at Sendai, here INAC were definitely missing the all round contribution from Bev Goebel.  It seems like it's the two non-Japanese players (So Yun and Goebel) who are the most consistent and both are key (along with Naho) to INAC playing their best flowing football.

Nakajima also impressed again where she certainly got the better of Kato.  After Chika's great performance in last year's Empress Cup S/F, I was expecting her to add something more to Urawa's team today but she was a bit of a disappointment.  I hope she gets another chance soon.

Nice to see Wada getting in the starting line-up.  She did OK.

Comment by Gromit on May 4, 2013 at 8:25

As I said I couldn't see the last two goals infortunately.

But I must precise that : if I was disappointed by Urawa, I was by INAC too. I found them better than their opponents, but far away from what I saw previously with this team. You think the cause is Urawa's playing which prevented Kobe to develop its usual game. Maybe. But I had the feeling that Kobe was just less good than before because of themselves (not a very good day, and that's all, if you want).

But of course I am not used to watch those both teams as often as you and I might be wrong in my analysis. Maybe I was expecting too much from this match. A very high and technical level, a fast game with plenty shots and goals and/or brillant GK's saves. My expectations were probably inversely proportional to my sleeping-time hours ;o)

Comment by Ken Suzuki on May 4, 2013 at 8:11

Well, of course, no club of Nadeshiko League is match for INAC Kobe when quality of midfield is the issue. We must wait until Lyon comes again to see a Kobe’s equal in that particular sense. My point is: today’s Urawa did well against the odds. If INAC Kobe performed as they usually do you will see a lot more unbroken chains of passes. They don’t need a feed over distance like the one that resulted in the PK and the first goal of today. Whoever did it (FW, MF, DF), Urawa prevented Kobe executes its Barca-style play. Kobe’s 3 goals are all products of Kawasumi – her long feed (first), her fast run (second), and her well-aimed cross. Urawa lost to Naho.

Comment by Gromit on May 4, 2013 at 7:38

I'm waiting to watch the highlights in order to see again the action on the contested foul (PK or not) but that won't change my feeling that there was a class difference between the two teams. Urawa's midfield was non-existent. That's where you win or lose the match. Except if you have an iron defense (not the case) and Alex Morgan forward (not the case either). For me, there was a Team on one side, and an assembly of talented but immature girls on the other. I know it can sound very tough for Urawa's fans (and I'm ready to become one at any moment), but that's how I saw "this" match (and only this one).

Comment by Ken Suzuki on May 4, 2013 at 7:22

@Gromit

I think today's game is not so lopsided as you make it sound. It was in the last 10 minutes, after the referee denied a rightful PK to Urawa and chance to equalize, that Urawa's physical & mental stamina ran out at last. Reds made some shots on the goal, one was close.

Of course, Kobe might have made it an easier win if Bev was there.

Comment by Gromit on May 4, 2013 at 7:12

That's it. Another INAC's win and another Urawa's loss... INAC won at Urawa 3-0; I could watch the match (except for the first 30 minutes and the last 5).

Inac dominated the match, winning the ball much more often than their opponents in the duels. But they didn't have many opportunities to score. They needed a PK (a foul on Yoko Tanaka, with a red card in addition) scored by Naomi Kawasumi to take the lead. Urawa's midfield was largely overpowered by INAC's and the Red Diamonds never had any shot at the goal. INAC added two more goals at the very last end (90 and 93') by Kawasumi again and Magami, but I couldn't see them, the streaming being dead at that moment...

Comment by Dennis Barton on May 3, 2013 at 6:33

Beleza lose another 16 year old today as it's the 17th birthday of Mayo Doko.

Mayo's calm persona and understated 'Bobby Moore' style often means she goes unnoticed but not with me. Considering she was two years younger than anyone else, I thought she was one of the stand-out performers at last year's U-20 World Cup and she's never let me down since.  She's also one of the reasons I love watching Beleza.  This leaves only Yui Hasegawa and Risa Shimizu as the the sole 16 year olds in Beleza's squad. Two more reasons why I love watching Beleza.

Comment by Ken Suzuki on April 27, 2013 at 13:33

@Gromit

There is something about Bev I want everyone to know. She has changed greatly since she joined Kobe a year ago. Now Bev is a typical Nadeshiko-style FW, which means:

(1) She does defense as well as offense. Her INAC teammates praise her for this particular point before anything

(2) She is fully integrated in the team. It's obvious Bev & Naho (Kawasumi) can "talk" with eyes. That's why Kawasumi can assist Bev's goal numerous times.

(3) She is respectful. We saw she often showed frustration against referee immediately after she came to Japan. Now we don't see even a hint of such behavior.

In fact, I from time to time fear she may have become like a Nadeshiko "too much", and it may give her problem when she has returned to the United States.

Comment by Hiroshi Umezu on April 27, 2013 at 13:02

Now, I can say that INAC Kobe Leonessa currently has a run-away lead in Japan's Nadeshiko League, even though I prefer the teams based in Saitama Prefecture.

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