Goalkeeping Spotlight: Sakiko Ikeda Anchors Urawa's Defensive Resilience—Tops WE League with 12 Clean Sheets

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In the 2024–25 WE League season, Urawa Red Diamonds' veteran goalkeeper Sakiko Ikeda led all keepers with 12 clean sheets, playing every minute of 21 league matches and keeping opposition goals to 0.59 per game. Her consistent shot-stopping and leadership were pivotal in anchoring Urawa's defense and securing a playoff berth.

📊 Impressive Season Stats

• Clean Sheets Leader: Ikeda played 21 matches, securing 12 shutouts—a 57.1% clean sheet rate.
• Defensive Backbone: The team conceded just 13 goals in 22 games (0.59 goals per match), the lowest in the league.
• Consistency & Reliability: As the undisputed #1, she logged full-time in all her starts, contributing seven wins and two draws.

🛡 Career & Leadership Profile

• Veteran Presence: At age 31, Ikeda has been a professional since 2011, rising through Urawa's youth system.
• National Bedrock: With 20 caps for Japan between 2017–2021—and international tournament experience including the Algarve Cup and Women's Asian Cup—she brings invaluable experience.
• Accolades: Named in the WE League Best XI for 2024–25, cementing her elite status between the posts.

⚽ Impact on Urawa's Season

• Playoff Push: Urawa finished 3rd with a mean 2.09 points per game, greatly aided by Ikeda's clean sheet consistency.
• Confidence Foundation: Holding opponents scoreless in over half their matches allowed Urawa to play with more attacking freedom, knowing defense was solid.
• Clutch Moments: Numerous matches were defined by her decisive saves—notably key saves in tight fixtures helped seal crucial points.

🎙 What the Numbers Say

FootyStats labels Urawa as the league's #1 in clean sheet consistency (55% of matches) with an astonishing 82% rate from away games, highlighting match-to-match reliability. Ikeda's presence ensured defensive stability on both home and road trails.

🇯🇵 日本語全文翻訳

見出し

ゴールキーパー注目：浦和レッドダイヤモンズの池田咲紀子、12回のクリーンシートで守備の要に

リード文

2024–25シーズン、浦和レッズレディースのゴールキーパー・池田咲紀子はリーグ最多の12クリーンシートを記録し、22試合（全21試合フル出場）中13失点、失点率0.59を達成。彼女の安定した守備力とリーダーシップは、浦和の堅守構築とプレーオフ進出に不可欠でした。

本文

• クリーンシートランキング首位：21試合で12回の無失点試合、クリーンシート率57.1％。
• 失点を最小限に抑える守備力：22試合で13失点、1試合平均0.59失点はリーグ最少。
• 全試合フル出場の信頼性：先発21試合すべて90分出場し、7勝2分と好成績を記録。

キャリアとリーダーシップ

• ベテランＧＫ：2011年に浦和の下部組織から昇格し、10年以上にわたって第一線で活躍。
• 日本代表経験：2017~2021年に国際大会（アルガルベ杯、女子アジア杯など）で20キャップを蓄積。
• 表彰歴：2024–25年のWEリーグ ベストイレブン選出で国内随一GKに。

浦和の守備支柱としての役割

• プレーオフ進出に直結：平均2.09点／試合で3位へ進出、池田の活躍がチームを牽引。
• 守備の信頼による攻撃の安定：無失点試合の多さがチーム全体に余裕と安定感をもたらす。
• 決定的セーブ：試合終盤のビッグセーブが勝ち点獲得に貢献。

数字が示す効力

• FootyStatsによれば、浦和はクリーンシート率55％、アウェイでは82％の圧倒的データを記録。
• 池田の安定感がどのスタジアムでも変わらぬ守備力を支えた。

Sakiko Ikeda's stellar season didn't just earn personal accolades—it fortified Urawa's defense, empowered their playoff positioning, and underscored her role as one of Japan's most reliable goalkeepers.