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NEWS
01/01/2010
Beleza defend All-Japan Women’s crown
Nippon TV Beleza won the All-Japan Women’s Championship for the third year in a row and 10th time overall, beating Urawa Reds Ladies 2-0 in the final on Friday at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Nadeshiko Japan internationals Shinobu Ohno and Homare Sawa scored for Beleza.
Beleza, who finished second behind champions Urawa in the league, took control of the game with stylish attacking football. They limited Urawa – who had the league’s top scorer Kozue Ando and third-best scorer Ayako Kitamoto in their lineup – to two attempts on goal while producing16 themselves.
Beleza created early chances from Yuki Nagasato, Shinobu Ohno and Homare Sawa, but they either fired wide or were denied by Urawa goalkeeper Nozomi Yamago, and the first half finished 0-0.
But five minutes after the break, Beleza went ahead when Ohno latched on to a fine through ball from Nagasato and fired home from the edge of the box.
Beleza’s domination continued and 31-year-old Sawa made it 2-0 when she connected with a cross from substitute Mana Iwabuchi in the 78th minute.
“It seems our players were overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the final,” Urawa manager Hiroshi Muramatsu lamented. “We couldn’t show our game and made so many mistakes. At halftime, I told them to enjoy themselves and relax, but we gave up a goal before we got to grips with the situation.”
Ando, who is on her way to play for Duisburg in Germany, said, “As this was my last game at Urawa, I wanted to finish well and without any regrets, but as we lost the game, I feel bad. Beleza were very good at keeping the ball and we couldn’t play at our pace.”
Beleza manager Kei Hoshikawa said, “I feel great, as we got the right result and played really well. I think we showed what we have worked on in the way we kept possession in today’s game. After we had a good first half, I knew we would be able to score in the second half.”
Hoshikawa’s success came in his first season in charge after being promoted from assistant to his predecessor.
Sawa commented, “All of our teammates showed how much they wanted to win this tournament. We tried to block them down the sides to make sure they couldn’t get balls in and I think it worked well.”
Sawa continued, “We’ve all worked so hard in training, and we have a sense of pride as well as confidence. Even when we don’t do well in training, we are disappointed. That’s how we have been able to develop our game.”
Nadeshiko Japan internationals Shinobu Ohno and Homare Sawa scored for Beleza.
Beleza, who finished second behind champions Urawa in the league, took control of the game with stylish attacking football. They limited Urawa – who had the league’s top scorer Kozue Ando and third-best scorer Ayako Kitamoto in their lineup – to two attempts on goal while producing16 themselves.
Beleza created early chances from Yuki Nagasato, Shinobu Ohno and Homare Sawa, but they either fired wide or were denied by Urawa goalkeeper Nozomi Yamago, and the first half finished 0-0.
But five minutes after the break, Beleza went ahead when Ohno latched on to a fine through ball from Nagasato and fired home from the edge of the box.
Beleza’s domination continued and 31-year-old Sawa made it 2-0 when she connected with a cross from substitute Mana Iwabuchi in the 78th minute.
“It seems our players were overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the final,” Urawa manager Hiroshi Muramatsu lamented. “We couldn’t show our game and made so many mistakes. At halftime, I told them to enjoy themselves and relax, but we gave up a goal before we got to grips with the situation.”
Ando, who is on her way to play for Duisburg in Germany, said, “As this was my last game at Urawa, I wanted to finish well and without any regrets, but as we lost the game, I feel bad. Beleza were very good at keeping the ball and we couldn’t play at our pace.”
Beleza manager Kei Hoshikawa said, “I feel great, as we got the right result and played really well. I think we showed what we have worked on in the way we kept possession in today’s game. After we had a good first half, I knew we would be able to score in the second half.”
Hoshikawa’s success came in his first season in charge after being promoted from assistant to his predecessor.
Sawa commented, “All of our teammates showed how much they wanted to win this tournament. We tried to block them down the sides to make sure they couldn’t get balls in and I think it worked well.”
Sawa continued, “We’ve all worked so hard in training, and we have a sense of pride as well as confidence. Even when we don’t do well in training, we are disappointed. That’s how we have been able to develop our game.”
