wf135: WE League 26/27 Week05&06

(Excerpt) Because the matches for Matchweek 5 were split across this week and next, and started just past noon on a Wednesday, Matchweek 6 featured two pairings where one side had only two days of rest while the other had a week. In both instances, the latter team (playing at home) emerged victorious. In spite of those chaotic situations, Chiba’s four-game winning streak is particularly noteworthy.（抜粋和約）第5節の試合が今週と来週に分散して行われ、しかも水曜日の正午過ぎに開始された影響で、第6節には、一方のチームの休息期間がわずか2日であるのに対し、もう一方は1週間の休息期間があるという組み合わせが2試合生じた。どちらのケースも、1週間の休息期間があったチームがホームで勝利を収めた。こうした混乱した状況下にあって、千葉が4連勝を達成したことは特筆に値する。

[[[[Foreword]]]]
Because the matches for Matchweek 5 were split across this week and next, and started just past noon on a Wednesday, Matchweek 6 featured two pairings where one side had only two days of rest while the other had a week. In both instances, the latter team (playing at home) emerged victorious. Given that Matchweek 5 took place during the sunny and hot daytime, while Matchweek 6 was played more toughly in the rain, it is clear that the scheduling disparity affected the teams’ physical condition. This irregular and maybe unfair arrangement surely needs to be addressed, doesn’t it?

Furthermore, scheduling professional matches for just past noon on a weekday—as was the case for Matchweek 5—is simply unacceptable.

However, in spite of those chaotic situations, Chiba’s four-game winning streak is particularly noteworthy.


[ [ [ .WE League 26/27 Weeks 05 & 06] ] ]
[ Blogger’s Preview for Matches of Week 06 on October 22nd ]
All eyes are on Chiba, who are currently in good form—what kind of result will they manage against a powerhouse Niigata?
The marquee matchup features second-placed Urawa against league leaders Kobe. For Kobe, the injury to their ace and a recent dip in form are causes for concern.
As for Sendai and Hiroshima—both of whom have had a slow start to the season—they will be looking to step up and deliver strong performances in their respective home matches.

[Overall Review]
Chiba secured an away victory against Niigata. Although the final score was 0–1, Chiba significantly outshot their opponents.

In the top-of-the-table clash between Urawa and Kobe, Urawa emerged victorious with a 2–0 win. Kobe’s performance appears to have been hindered by a demanding schedule, injuries, and the absence of young players away for the U-17 world cup. We wish them the best in the AWCL.

It also appears that Shiori Fukuda has taken over as the starting goalkeeper for Urawa.

[ Results of Matches ]
The numbers in the parentheses indicate their standing before the matches of Week 05. The attendance in total for week 06 was 7,427.

<Week 05>
Match1 of week 05 (10/21 12:00): Kobe ( 1, 10, +4)* 1-2 Chiba ( 6, 6, 0)
at Noevir Stadium Kobe (27.9C sunny) with attendance of 1,549.
Kobe’s goal: M. Kubota (55′)
Chiba’s goals: R. Masano (10′), Y. Ogawa (84′)
Shots: 12:16 (4:6)

Match2 of week 05 (10/21 13:00): Saitama ( 4, 7, 0) 1-2 Sendai ( 10, 3, -3)
at Kawagoe Sports Park Athletics Stadium (32.0C cloudy/sunny) with attendance of 446.
Saitama’s goal: S. Miaki (84′)
Sendai’s goals: S. Esaki (30′), M. Ota (39′)
Shots: 7:6 (1:3)

Match3 of week 05 (10/21 12:00): Sagamihara ( 9, 4, -6) 1-0 Niigata ( 8, 5, 0)
at Sagamihara Gion Stadium (25.1C sunny) with attendance of 534.
Sagamihara’s goal: H. Yumura (56′)
Shots: 10:7 (4:4)

<Week 06>
Match1 (10/24 12:00): Beleza ( 3, 9, +3) 4-1 Saitama ( 4, 7, 0)*
at AGF Field (16.7C rainy) with attendance of 621.
Beleza’s goals: M. Shinjo (7′), R. Ujihara (14′), H. Naomoto (35′), M. Hiwatari (81′)
Saitama’s goal: R. Higuchi (65′)
Shots: 13:15 (7:8)

Match2 (10/24 13:00): Niigata ( 8, 5, 0)* 0-1 Chiba ( 6, 6, 0)*
at Niigata City Athletics Stadium (19.2C rainy) with attendance of 753.
Chiba’s goal: S. Suzuki (72′)
Shots: 7:12 (2:3)

Match3 (10/24 14:00): Sendai ( 10, 3, -3)* 0-0 Sagamihara ( 9, 4, -6)*
at Yurtec Stadium Sendai (15.7C rainy) with attendance of 1,122.
Shots: 3:13 (0:5)

Match4 (10/24 14:00): Urawa ( 2, 9, +6) 2-0 Kobe (1, 10, +4)**
at Urawa Komaba Stadium (18.1C rainy) with attendance of 1,400.
Urawa’s goals: C. Kato (16′), M. Kikuchi (34′)
Shots: 12:7 (10:1)

Match5 (10/25 13:00): Omiya ( 12, 3, -4) 1-2 Osaka ( 7, 5, +1)
at NACK5 Stadium Omiya (20.2C cloudy/rainy) with attendance of 1,257.
Omiya’s goal: H. Nishio (90’+1)
Osaka’s goals: M. Momono (50′), M. Asayama (67′)
Shots: 7:8 (2:3)

Match6 (10/25 14:00): Hiroshima ( 5, 6, +1) 1-0 Nagano ( 11, 3, -4)
at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima (22.3C cloudy/rainy) with attendance of 2,274.
Hiroshima’s goal: K. Asakura (65′)
Shots: 18:8 (9:4)


Standings at the end of this week’s matches (points, goal difference)

(1) Urawa (12, +8)
(2) Beleza (12, +6)
(3) Chiba* (12, +2)
(4) Kobe** (10, +1)
(5) Hiroshima (9, +2)
(6) Osaka (8, +2)
(7) Sagamihara* (8, -5)
(8) Sendai* (7, -2)
(9) Saitama* (7, -2)
(10) Niigata* (5, -2)
(11) Nagano* (3, -5)
(12) Omiya (3, -5)
* They have played one or two extra matches ahead due to the Week 7 and Week 5 games being rescheduled to accommodate the coming AWCL schedule.