The 34th Empress' Cup - Semi-Final Results

Semi Final Matches, ties played on Saturday 22nd of December:

Match 29:  
INAC Kobe Leonessa  1 - 0  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
(Attendance: 3,069)

An early goal for INAC Kobe was enough to see them through to the Cup final as Urawa came up short. Goebel-Yanez scored once again for INAC, charging down Ikeda's attempted clearance and finishing off herself with the young Urawa goalkeeper trying to recover.

Urawa attempted to come back into the game and had some good chances, but INAC Kobe was always dangerous themselves and in the end had just too much. They progress to the final looking for their third successive title.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Tanaka Asuna, Kai Junko (capt), Rebecca Moros, Minamiyama Chiaki, Ji So-Yun, Sawa Homare, Kawasumi Nahomi, Takase Megumi, Beverly Goebel-Yanez
Subs: Takara Ryoko (Kinga Yukari, 26 mins), Nakajima Emi (Ji So-Yun, HT), Ohno Shinobu (Minamiyama Chiaki, 83 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Tanaka Yoko
Scorers: Beverly Goebel-Yanez (7 mins)

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Tsuchihashi Yuki, Yano Kyoko (capt), Dozono Ayano, Sakamoto Riho, Kishikawa Natsuki, Niwata Akiko, Shibata Hanae, Kato Chika, Naomoto Hikaru, Goto Michi
Subs: Arakawa Eriko (Naomoto Hikaru, 77 mins), Saito Akane (Dozono Ayano, 81 mins), Yasuda Yuki (Kato Chika, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Yamago Nozomi, Kohata Shiho
Booked: Niwata Akiko


Match 30: 
Iga FC Kunoichi  1 - 1  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies 
JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies win 4-3 on penalties
(Attendance: 1,695)

JEF United progressed to their first major final following a shoot-out win over three-time winners Iga. Ogawa Shiho headed JEF United into the lead on the hour mark, converting Fukusawa's corner kick. Nine minutes later Miyamoto Tomomi, playing in what would be her final game before retirement, got on the end of a Kunoichi move down the left which featured fine build-up play from Nasu and Nakade.

Following a scoreless extra-time period the game went to a penalty shoot-out, with JEF United prevailing 4-3 after both sides had missed kicks. JEF United move on to their first final, Iga have not appeared in the fnal match since they won the competition in 2001.

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Yamaguchi Ayako, Ono Suzuka (capt), Miyasako Tamami, Miyamoto Tomomi, Nasu Maiko, Noichi Aya, Tsutsumi Saki, Fujimoto Ayano, Kobayashi Makiko, Nakade Hikari
Subs: Haji Madoka (Tsutsumi Saki, 68 mins), Sonomura Nana (Nakade Hikari, 109 mins)
Unused subs: Ono Maya, Sato Ai, Matsunaga Tomoe
Scorers: Miyamoto Tomomi (69 mins)

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Funada Mayu, Sakuramoto Naoko, Takahashi Sachie, Hosokawa Motoyo, Kawamura Mariko, Ikadai Risa, Hosaka Nodoka, Yanai Rina, Fukasawa Risa, Ogawa Shiho, Shimizu Yuka (capt)
Subs: Kawamura Noriko (Shimizu Yuka, 75 mins), Chino Shoko (Ogawa Shiho, 81 mins), Yamamoto Naomi (Ikadai Risa, 114 mins)
Unused subs: Yamane Erina, Tezuka Saori
Scorers: Ogawa Shiho (60 mins)
Booked: Sakuramoto Naoko


Final Match, to be played on Monday 24th of December:

Match 31: 
INAC Kobe Leonessa
versus
JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies