Aya Miyama

Aya Miyama

File:Aya Miyama in 2011.JPG Miyama starring in the 2011 World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Aya Miyama
Height	5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Okayama Yunogō Belle
Number	10
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
?–1999	Yomiuri Menina
1999–?	NTV Beleza
2001–2008	Okayama Yunogo Belle	110	(62)
2009	Los Angeles Sol	20	(0)
2010	Saint Louis Athletica	5	(1)
2010	Atlanta Beat	17	(1)
2010–	Okayama Yunogo Belle	7	(4)
International career‡
2003–	Japan	96	(25)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 July 2011 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 July 2011 (UTC)

Aya Miyama (宮間 あや, Miyama Aya, born 28 January 1985, in Chiba) is a Japanese football midfielder currently plays for Okayama Yunogō Belle of the L. League and is a member of the Japanese National Team.

Career

Miyama started her career as a football player in the club her father founded. She later joined NTV Beleza in 1999 after playing with Yomiuri Menina (NTV Menina), but when she was in eleventh grade, she left the team and went to the high school football club. Even among male players, she kept playing football.

Miyama joined L. League side Okayama Yunogo Belle in 2001, having received an invitation from Midori Honda, the coach.

In the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup held in Shanghai, China, Miyama performed brilliantly in Japan's match against England, scoring the team's two goals both on direct free kicks, leading Japan to a draw. In Japan's first group stage match of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, she scored the go-ahead goal in Japan's win against New Zealand on a scorching 68th minute free kick, and was named Player of the Match.

On November 24, 2008, Miyama was selected by Los Angeles Sol in the 2008 WPS International Draft, and joined Sol in 2009. In the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, she had 6 assists but no goals. When the Sol disbanded in early 2010, she was taken by Saint Louis Athletica. Miyama signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Beat on June 10, 2010.

At Women's World Cup 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany, Miyama made the winning goal in the match against New Zealand, and shot the first goal in the final against USA.

Aya Miyama (Left) with Boston Breaker Kelly Smith.

Career statistics

Club career

Team	Season	League	Domestic League					Domestic Playoffs					Total
			Apps	Starts	Minutes	Goals	Assists	Apps	Starts	Minutes	Goals	Assists	Apps	Starts	Minutes	Goals	Assists
Los Angeles Sol	2009	WPS	20	20	1800	0	6	1	1	90	0	0	21	21	1890	0	6
		Total	20	20	1800	0	6	1	1	90	0	0	21	21	1890	0	6
Career Total		-	20	20	1800	0	6	1	1	90	0	0	21	21	1890	0	6

Achievements

• World Champion 2011

External links

• Aya Miyama – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Japan Football player profile
• Los Angeles Sol player profile