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Japanese footballer (born 2004)
Manaka Matsukubo
(
松窪 ?心
,
Matsukubo Manaka
, born 28 July 2004)
is a Japanese professional
football
player who plays as a
forward
or
attacking midfielder
for the
North Carolina Courage
of the
National Women's Soccer League
(NWSL). She plays internationally for
Japan women's national under-20 football team
and was an integral part of the team that made the
2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final
.
[2]
Club career
[
edit
]
Mynavi Sendai
[
edit
]
Matsukubo made her professional debut for
Mynavi Sendai
of the
WE League
on 5 March 2023 and played 1,075 minutes across the season.
[3]
She helped the team to a fourth-place finish in her first year as a professional, scoring four goals and adding one assist.
[4]
North Carolina Courage (loan)
[
edit
]
On 27 July 2023, the North Carolina Courage acquired Matsukubo on loan from Mynavi Sendai through June 2024.
[3]
She made her first NWSL appearance on 27 August 2023.
[2]
With the Courage, Matsukubo became the youngest player to start a game in the
NWSL Challenge Cup
and the youngest to score.
[4]
In the
Challenge Cup final
against
Racing Louisville
, she was named the MVP after scoring on a chip volley off a pass from
Tess Boade
in the 54th minute, lifting the Courage to the final score of 2?0.
[5]
[6]
[7]
Matsukubo scored her first regular-season goal the next week in a 2?1 loss to the
Orlando Pride
.
[8]
In the Courage's last regular-season game, Matsukubo had an assist?a cross converted by
Tyler Lussi
?in the Courage's 1?0 win against the
Washington Spirit
that clinched their spot in the playoffs.
[9]
International career
[
edit
]
Matsukubo played for Japan's U-20 World Cup team during the
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
in 2022.
[10]
She was called up to play for the U-20 Japan Women's National Team for the
AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup
in 2024, but she left early to return to her club.
[11]
Career statistics
[
edit
]
Club
[
edit
]
- As of match played 23 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club
|
Season
|
League
|
National Cup
[a]
|
League Cup
[b]
|
Total
|
Division
|
Apps
|
Goals
|
Apps
|
Goals
|
Apps
|
Goals
|
Apps
|
Goals
|
JFA Academy Fukushima
|
2019
|
Challenge League
|
10
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
3
|
2020
|
Challenge League
|
12
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
13
|
9
|
2021
|
Nadeshiko League 2
|
14
|
13
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
15
|
2022
|
Nadeshiko League 2
|
10
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
6
|
Total
|
46
|
30
|
5
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
51
|
33
|
Mynavi Sendai
|
2022?23
|
WE League
|
12
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
4
|
North Carolina Courage
(loan)
|
2023
|
NWSL
|
7
|
1
|
?
|
2
|
1
|
9
|
2
|
Career Total
|
65
|
35
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
72
|
39
|
Honours
[
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]
JFA Academy Fukushima
- Nadeshiko Challenge League: 2020
- Nadeshiko League 2: 2021
North Carolina Courage
Individual
- WE League Outstanding Player Award: 2022?23
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]