Manaka Matsukubo
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Manaka Matsukubo (born July 28, 2004) is a Japanese professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League. She played for Japan's U-20, helping the team to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final in 2022.
Club Career
Mynavi Sendai
Matsukubo made her professional deput for Mynavi Sendai of the WE League on 5 March, 2023 and played 1,075 minutes across the season.[1] She helped the team to a fourth-place finish in her first year as a professional after scoring four goals and added an assist.[2]
North Carolina Courage, 2023–present
On 27 July 2023, the North Carolina Courage acquired Matsukubo on loan from Mynavi Sendai of the Japanese WE League through June 2024.[1] She made her first NWSL appearance on 27 August 2023.[3] While at the Courage, Matsukubo made history as the youngest player to start in a game in the NWSL Challenge Cup.[2] She was named Challenge Cup MVP after the Courage beat Racing Louisville 2-0 in the final.[2]
International Career
Matsukubo played for Japan's U-20 World Cup team during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Courage acquire Japanese midfielder Manaka Matsukubo". NC Courage. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ a b c "NWSL Challenge Cup MVP: Manaka Matsukubo makes history". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ Cascone, Arianna (2023-10-10). "How 19-year-old Manaka Matsukubo is already lighting up the NWSL – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ "U-20 Japan Women's National Team squad - FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ (8/7-28＠Costa Rica)". JFA｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-10-13.