Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Cruise Past AC Nagano Parceiro in Nadeshiko League Cup

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies in the Japanese Nadeshiko League Cup on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. The match, played at Urawa Komaba Stadium, kicked off at 15:00 local time, and the home side controlled proceedings from start to finish.

Match Overview

Urawa, one of the most successful clubs in Japanese women's football, asserted their authority early on. They dominated possession and created a series of chances, forcing Nagano's goalkeeper into several saves. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when forward Miyu Ogawa latched onto a defence-splitting pass from Nana Takahashi and calmly finished past the goalkeeper. The second goal arrived in the 58th minute when Takahashi herself scored with a stunning free-kick from 25 yards. Nagano struggled to create clear chances, with their best effort hitting the post in the 72nd minute. Urawa saw out the game comfortably to claim all three points.

Key Moments

• 34' — Goal (Urawa): Miyu Ogawa opens the scoring with a composed finish.
• 58' — Goal (Urawa): Nana Takahashi doubles the lead with a free-kick.
• 72' — Chance (Nagano): A shot from outside the box strikes the post.
• 85' — Save: Urawa goalkeeper Chika Hirao keeps out a late Nagano effort.

Tactical Story

Urawa lined up in a 4-3-3, using their wide players to stretch Nagano's defence. Their midfield trio controlled the tempo, with Takahashi pulling the strings. Nagano set up in a 5-4-1, looking to defend deep and counter-attack, but they struggled to retain possession. Urawa's high press forced errors and limited Nagano's ability to build from the back. The introduction of fresh legs in the second half helped Urawa maintain their intensity and see out the win.

Standout Players

Nana Takahashi (Urawa): Scored a brilliant free-kick and dictated play. Miyu Ogawa (Urawa): Took her goal well and was a constant threat. Chika Hirao (Urawa): Made a crucial save to preserve the clean sheet. Sakura Ito (Nagano): Despite conceding twice, the goalkeeper made several good stops to keep the score respectable.

Cup Context

This victory strengthens Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies' position in the Nadeshiko League Cup group. As one of the favourites for the competition, they will be pleased with a professional performance. AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies, meanwhile, will need to improve if they are to progress. The Nadeshiko League Cup is a key part of the Japanese women's football calendar, and Urawa's convincing win sends a message to their rivals.

Urawa will look to carry this momentum into their next fixture, while Nagano must regroup and find a way to compete against the top teams.