Japanese Women's L League: INAC Kobe Leonessa's slump

Homare Sawa can't play 90 minutes as much as before

After 5 games into the new season in the Japanese Women’s L League, INAC Kobe Leonessa are in 7^th place after winning the league back to back to back from 2011 to 2013. The Japanese team is considered as a dominant force in Japan and one of the best teams in the world (if not the best) but they seem to be losing a grip on that reputation as their start to this season has taken a bit of an unexpected blow.

INAC Kobe lost their first two games to Urawa RD Ladies and Vegalta Sendai who are both currently first and second in the league respectively, ‘The Leonessa’ convincingly defeated Albirex Niigata Ladies, 2-0, with both goals from Rika Masuya and things looked like they had taken a turn for good but no, they went on to draw their next two games and that has seen them remain in 7^th position, just 2 places before last.

In 2013 INAC Kobe finished as champions and aside from the input of the legendary Homare Sawa, Beverly Goebel-Yanez finished as the top scorer in the league, Nahomi Kawasumi claimed the best player award and South Korean international, Ji So Yun was in the team of the year. So, where are all these star players now?

Well, Ji So Yun was transferred to England’s Chelsea Ladies FC and both Nahomi Kawasumi and Beverly Goebel-Yanez were loaned to the U.S.A’s Seattle Reign FC. All three key players departed before the season began and eyebrows were raised as to why INAC Kobe were agreeing to these deals and how they would cope after the deals were done.

It’s pretty obvious why the Lionessa aren’t at the top of their game this season, the only ‘big name’ key player, Homare Sawa, might as well be on the brink of retirement and her ability to play full effective 90 minutes is highly questionable as she doesn’t even play the full 90 for the national team of recent.

Who knows, maybe INAC Kobe Lionessa are in some sort of transition but whether they are or not, as this key departures have occurred they do still have the prolific captain, Megumi Takase and veteran, Homare Sawa, but a group of certain squad players would have to step up and help to lead and restore the team on track in the long run of the 2014 season such as the young Yoko Tanaka and Rika Masuya.

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Thank You : )

- Sam