NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-3 Albirex Niigata Ladies: Clinical Niigata Punish Beleza in Nadeshiko League Cup Clash

Albirex Niigata Ladies delivered one of the standout performances of the Japanese Nadeshiko League Cup group stage on 23 September 2026, defeating NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza 3-1 at Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka. The visitors scored twice after the break to turn a tightly contested first half into a comfortable away victory, handing Beleza a result that leaves them needing to respond quickly in the remaining group fixtures.

Match Overview

Played in front of a lively afternoon crowd in Tokyo, the contest was billed as a meeting between two of the most technically accomplished sides in Japanese women's football. Beleza, playing at home, expected to control possession, while Niigata arrived with a clear plan: press high, win the ball in the middle third, and attack quickly before the home defence could set.

The match finished NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1, Albirex Niigata Ladies 3, a scoreline that reflects Niigata's ruthlessness rather than any significant gulf in general play. Beleza saw plenty of the ball, particularly in the opening half-hour, but were repeatedly exposed by direct, vertical counter-attacks from a well-drilled visiting side.

Key Moments

• 23rd minute – Niigata take the lead: A high turnover in midfield released the Niigata front line, and a low finish into the far corner put the visitors 1-0 up against the run of play.
• 41st minute – Beleza level: The home side finally converted their territorial pressure, with a well-worked move down the right ending in a composed finish to make it 1-1 going into the interval.
• 63rd minute – Niigata restore the lead: Another quick transition caught Beleza's back line too high, and a first-time strike from the edge of the box restored the away side's advantage.
• 88th minute – The game is sealed: Beleza pushed bodies forward in search of an equaliser, and Niigata punished the space with a third goal on the break, wrapping up all three points.

Tactical Story of the Match

Beleza's approach was patient and positional. Their midfield rotated the ball well, full-backs advanced to create overloads, and for long spells Niigata were content to defend in a compact 4-4-2 block. The problem came in transition: every time Beleza lost possession in advanced areas, they were left with too few players behind the ball.

Niigata's game plan leaned on that vulnerability. Their wingers stayed high and narrow, inviting the switch of play before accelerating into it, and their central striker dropped into pockets to link play before spinning in behind. It was an efficient, low-risk attacking model that produced three goals from a modest number of clear chances.

Beleza's manager will point to the chances his side created and the long periods of control, but the recurring theme of the afternoon was defensive balance. In a cup format where goal difference and head-to-head records can decide qualification, conceding three at home is a costly detail.

Standout Players

Rina Tachibana (Albirex Niigata Ladies) was the game's most influential attacker, combining a goal with a constant stream of intelligent runs that stretched Beleza's defensive line.

Mei Kurihara (NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza) was her team's brightest performer, dictating tempo from midfield and creating the move that led to the equaliser. Her performance deserved more from the afternoon.

Niigata's goalkeeper also played a vital role, producing two important saves at 1-1 to keep her side level before the visitors regained the lead.

What It Means for the Nadeshiko League Cup Table

The result gives Albirex Niigata Ladies a significant boost in the group standings and, crucially, a strong scoring record to carry into the closing rounds of the competition. A 3-1 away win over a side of Beleza's pedigree is exactly the kind of result that can shape a cup campaign.

For NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza, the defeat increases the pressure on their remaining matches. Their route to the knockout stage remains open, but they will need maximum points from their upcoming fixtures and a tighter defensive display, particularly in transition moments.

The two clubs could yet meet again later in the competition, and on this evidence a rematch would be a far more tense affair — Beleza will feel they have a score to settle, while Niigata now know exactly how to hurt them.