Nadeshiko Update . . . INAC win League, Vegalta take 2nd Tier

INAC Kobe Leonessa confirmed their Nadeshiko League title for the second year in-a-row after they were victorious in Okayama on Sunday, beating Yunogo Belle 4-1. World Cup-winning star Nahomi Kawasumi scored once and aided in all three other goals – two for Shinobu Ohno and one for Megumi Takase.

INAC went through the season with 15 wins and a sole defeat – giving them 46 points with two matches remaining – and are now unbeaten in league play for 35 matches.

In what could be known as L2, Vegalta Sendai Ladies clinched the Challenge League – the 2nd level in Japanese ladies football – and won promotion to the Nadeshiko League after crushing Sfida Setagaya FC 5-0, taking their record to 19 winds, two draws and 59 points with just one match to go.

Sendai have met success in their first season in the league after forming around the players of the now defunct TEPCO Mareeze. Mareeze disbanded after last year’s Tohoku area earthquake and tsunami.

Winning the Nadeshiko league title means that INAC will join League Cup winners NTV Beleza in the International Women’s Club Championship taking place on November 22 and 25 in Saitama. This new women’s competition also features Olympique Lyonnais of France – European champions – and Australian champions Canberra United.

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