International Friendly Match vs Netherlands Women's National Team

2017-6-9 (Fri.) Kick-off 18:30 (Local Time)  Playing time 90min. (45min. x 2)
Rat Verlegh Stadion (Breda / Netherlands)

Netherlands Women's National Team　0-1 (0-0, 0-1) Japan Women's National Team

Score
62'　YOKOYAMA Kumi

Booking
81'　SAMESHIMA Aya

Starting Line-ups
GK: YAMASHITA Ayaka
DF: SAMESHIMA Aya, ICHISE Nana, KUMAGAI Saki(C), OYA Ayumi
MF: SAKAGUCHI Mizuho, NAOMOTO Hikaru, NAKAJIMA Emi, MOMIKI Yuka
FW: TANAKA Mina, SUGASAWA Yuika

Reserves
GK: YAMANE Erina, IKEDA Sakiko
DF: NAKAMURA Kaede, SASAKI Mayu, TAKAGI Hikari
MF: UTSUGI Rumi, SUGITA Ami, NAKASATO Yu, SUMIDA Rin, HASEGAWA Yui
FW: YOKOYAMA Kumi, UENO Mami

Substitutions
59'　NAOMOTO Hikaru → NAKASATO Yu
59'　SUGASAWA Yuika → YOKOYAMA Kumi
69'　NAKAJIMA Emi → HASEGAWA Yui
77'　MOMIKI Yuka → SUMIDA Rin
82'　ICHISE Nana → TAKAGI Hikari

Match Report

Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) won an international friendly against the Netherlands Women's National Team 1-0 on Friday 9 June.

The match was held in Breda, Netherlands. Nadeshiko Japan started the game in a 4-4-2 formation with the goalkeeper YAMASHITA Ayaka, the defenders SAMESHIMA Aya, ICHISE Nana, KUMAGAI Saki, and OYA Ayumi starting from the left. SAKAGUCHI Mizuho and NAOMOTO Hikaru played in midfield with NAKAJIMA Emi and MOMIKI Yuka on both wings. Both TANAKA Mina and SUGASAWA Yuika played in the two forward positions.

The midfielder NAOMOTO took a long-distance shot in the 13th minute, followed by the forward MOMIKI Yuka’s floating shot aiming at the space behind the opponent’s goalkeeper in the 14th minute. Although both shots went wide over the bar, Japan were eager to find their rhythm to attack from the beginning of the match. Netherlands, on the other hand, came close to Japan’s goal with counter-attacks. The defender SAMESHIMA led the team in quickly defending against the opponent’s attackers, preventing them from scoring. Both teams stayed competitive through the first half.

After 59 minutes, the midfielder NAKASATO Yu was sent onto the pitch to replace the midfielder NAOMOTO and the forward YOKOYAMA Kumi to substitute the forward SUGASAWA Yuika. In the 62nd minute, just after the replacements, YOKOYAMA, who received a ball from the midfielder SAKAGUCHI, struck a goal with a long-distance shot. After the opener, Japan were under pressure from the Netherlands towards the end of the game. However, the goalkeeper YAMASHITA defended superbly when the opponent created an almost-deciding goal-scoring opportunity. Japan showed off their tenacious defence. Nadeshiko Japan managed to sustain their one-goal lead with YOKOYAMA’s shot and beat Netherlands, who will participate in the UEFA Women’s EURO shortly.

Nadeshiko Japan will move to Belgium on Saturday 10 June in order to attend training sessions for two days. Then they will play against the Belgium Women's National Team on Tuesday 13 June (at 3:00 on Wednesday 14 June in Japan time).

Coach's and Players' Comments

TAKAKURA Asako, Coach
It meant a lot to us to have won the game through trying out various things. The players seemed to have felt that, too. Although we were under pressure at the end of the game, we stayed patient and defended tenaciously. The players could have got through the opponent’s pressure up front a little more effectively to move the ball forward. I believe we achieved our biggest aim – maintain a lead to win.

FW ＃9 YOKOYAMA Kumi (1. FFC Frankfurt/Germany)
As soon as I came off the bench, all I had in mind was to score. My recent success rate in shots was quite high and I managed to bring that momentum today. I’m glad I could score a goal. Since I can’t score on my own, I believe we performed well as a team.

DF #4 KUMAGAI Saki (Olympique Lyonnais/France)
As a team, we should have scored one in the first half. However, it was good that we succeeded in striking a goal early in the second half and defended solidly against the opponent’s pressure in the end, especially because we haven’t been able to win recently. We fixed our problems, which we had found through our defeat to the Netherlands in the Algarve Cup, and defended well through communication among the defensive line.

MF ＃7 NAKAJIMA Emi (INAC KOBE LEONESSA)
It was easy to play with SAMESHIMA on the left, as we play together back in our club. My strength is to receive the ball and keep possession. So I’d like to show off my skills more.

Schedule

*Local Time
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

International Friendly Match

2017-6-9(Fri.) 18:30 kick off (TBC)
[ Japan time: 6-10(Sat.) 1:30 kick off (TBC) ]
Netherlands Women's National Team vs Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) 
Rat Verlegh Stadion(Breda / Netherlands)

2017-6-13(Tue.) 20:00 kick off (TBC)
[ Japan time: 6-14(Wed.) 3:00 kick off (TBC) ]
Belgium Women's National Team vs Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team)
Stadium Den Dreef Leuven (Leuven / Belgium)

More Information