2020 Nadeshiko League
The 2020 Nadeshiko League is the 32nd season of the Nadeshiko League, the main league for women's association football in Japan. It is also the 16th season in its current format.
The league was originally scheduled to begin on 2 May 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league has been re-scheduled to begin on 18 July 2020 with the first two rounds of matches played behind closed doors.[1]
Division 1
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 18 July 2020 – 21 November 2020 |
| Matches played | 20 |
| Goals scored | 52 (2.6 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Yuika Sugasawa (4 goals) |
| Highest scoring | JEF United Ladies 2–4 Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (18 July 2020) |
← 2019 2021 →
All statistics correct as of 10 August 2020. | |
The season started on 18 July 2020 and is expected to end on 21 November 2020. Prior to the league start date, PCR were carried out on all the players and staffs of the teams participating in the leagues to check their health conditions, almost all test cases came out negative[2]
The winner will earn the right to participate in the 2021 AFC Women's Club Championship. NTV Beleza are the defending champions.
This will also be its final year as the highest division of the Japan women's football league system as the WE League is set to commence next year.
Teams
The league will be contested by 10 teams, debutants Ehime winners of the 2019 Nadeshiko League Division 2 and runners up Cerezo Osaka replaced Nittidai and AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies, who were relegated from the 2019 Nadeshiko League Division 1.
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Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cerezo Osaka | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 12 | Qualification to AFC Women's Club Championship |
| 2 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 10 | |
| 3 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 9 | |
| 4 | NTV Beleza | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 7 | |
| 5 | Albirex Niigata | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 | |
| 6 | Ehime | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 4 | |
| 7 | JEF United Chiba | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored
Results
Positions by round
= Leader; = To Relegation play-offs; = Relegation to Nadeshiko League Division 2
Attendance
Average attendance
Highest attendance
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, spectators were not allowed into stadiums for the time being.
Statistics
Topscorers
- As of matches played on 10 August 2020.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Urawa Red | 4 |
| 2 | |
Nojima Stella | 3 |
|
NTV Beleza | ||
|
Cerezo Osaka | ||
| 5 | |
INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2 |
|
Albirex Niigata | ||
|
Iga FC | ||
|
JEF United Chiba | ||
|
NTV Beleza | ||
Awards
Best XI
Division 2
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 18 July – 21 November 2020 |
| Matches played | 20 |
| Goals scored | 42 (2.1 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Elfen Saitama 4–0 Nittaidai (26 July 2020) |
| Biggest away win | Jumonji Ventus 0–5 Sfida Setagaya (19 July 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Jumonji Ventus 0–5 Sfida Setagaya (19 July 2020) |
← 2019 2021 →
All statistics correct as of 10 August 2020. | |
The season began on 18 July 2020.
Teams and format
10 teams contested the league, Jumonji Ventus were promoted while Shizuoka Sangyo were relegated from the previous season, additionally Nittaidai and Nagano Parceiro Ladies also joined from the Nadeshiko League Division 1.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sfida Setagaya | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 10 | Promoted to Division 1 |
| 2 | Harima | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 10 | Division 1 Promotion/Relegation Series |
| 3 | Elfen Saitama | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 7 | |
| 4 | Yamato Sylphid | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 6 | |
| 5 | Yokohama | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 5 | |
| 6 | Kamogawa | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 | |
| 7 | Jumonji Ventus | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 3 | |
| 8 | Nagano Parceiro | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 2 | |
| 9 | Bunnys Kyoto | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 2 | Division 2 Promotion/Relegation Series |
| 10 | Nittaidai | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 2 | Relegated to Division 3 |
Results
Statistics
Top scorers
Awards
Challenge League
| Season | 2020 |
|---|---|
← 2019 2021 →
All statistics correct as of 19 July 2020. | |
Teams
| Clubs (East) | Hometown(s) |
|---|---|
| Tokiwagi Gakuen High School LSC | Sendai, Miyagi |
| Norddea Hokkaido | Sapporo, Hokkaido |
| Tsukuba FC Ladies | Tsukuba, Ibaraki |
| Niigata University of Health and Welfare LSC | Niigata, Niigata |
| JFA Academy Fukushima LSC | Susono, Shizuoka[3] |
| Clubs (West) | Hometown(s) |
| Speranza Osaka Takatsuki | Takatsuki, Osaka |
| KIU Charme | Takahashi, Okayama |
| Yunogo Belle | Mimasaka, Okayama |
| Angeviolet Hiroshima | Hiroshima |
| NGU Nagoya F.C. Ladies | Nagoya, Aichi |
Play-off rounds
References
- "Nadeshiko League to finally kick off on 18 July". Japantimes.com. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- "Nadeshiko League no PCR test positive for players and staffs". tellerreport.com. 14 July 2020.
- Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the team has relocated from Naraha, Fukushima to sport facilities in Shizuoka Prefecture. http://www.jfa.jp/youth_development/jfa_academy/fukushima/operation.html