The 35th Empress' Cup - Semi-Final Matches

Semi-Final Matches, played Saturday 21st of December:

Match 33:
INAC Kobe Leonessa  3 - 2  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 2,585)

Both sides have won this competition on three occasions, though with INAC Kobe Leonessa's three wins coming in the last three years, it was they who were heavy favourites to win today. For the champions Nakajima had an early chance and Kuno in the Iga goal was somewhat fortunate not to give away a penalty having appeared to have tripped her. Nakade was Iga's main target up front as usual and she looked to shoot whenever the opportunity arose. INAC continued to find space down the wings as the Iga defenders struggled initially with the number of players INAC brought forward, though they did eventually become more comfortable and organised, limiting INAC's chances in the first half. Iga's attacking opportunities were limited and at times they seemed to lack belief in their abilities. Beverly Goebel-Yanez, injured for the Ehime game and kept out of the Kibi match last week, made her entry to the game in the 43rd minute, replacing Tanaka Yoko.

Iga's best chance of the game came three minutes into the second half. After sustained pressure they won a free kick just outside the area, which Tsutsumi struck against the crossbar. Indeed, Iga had far more attacking play in the first ten minutes in the second half than they had in the whole of the first half. They were eventually rewarded for their hard work in the 58th minute with a goal from Nakade Hikari, putting the ball away expertly after a fine penetrating run from Matsunaga; Nakade was immediately replaced by Noichi Aya. INAC looked to respond immediately with Sawa heading well - Kuno in the Iga goal was equal to it. The champions continued to press hard, and in the 68th minute found the equaliser, Takase powering her way past Michikura to score. This prompted Iga to make another change, with Matsunaga being replaced by Haji. The game turned entirely with the lead goal for INAC on 72 minutes, when a through pass from Ji  finished off with aplomb by Goebel-Yanez.

Iga continued to fight, with Haji bringing a fine save out of Kaihori with fifteen minutes remaining, with Takase replying at the other end with a fine shot of her own. Iga made one final change, Sakaguchi coming in for Matsunaga with nine minutes remaining. Some fine build-up play from Iga went unrewarded as Miyasako blasted over. However, moments later an astonishing mistake from Kaihori Ayumi gave Iga an equaliser, as her attempted clearance was miskicked straight to Sakaguchi who calmly passed the ball across the goal for Kobayashi to score. Having done so much to get back into the game, Iga then let it slip again, as Ji scored INAC's third with two minutes remaining. Takase on the left found Goebel-Yanez in the box, and with goalkeeper Kuno coming out to attempt to take the ball, Goebel-Yanez's pass back to Ji saw her take the straightforward chance presented to her. INAC were able to maintain pressure on the Iga goal for the remaining minutes, starving their opponents of possession.

Thus INAC Kobe Leonessa progress to their fourth consecutive final, a repeat of the 2011 final against Albirex Niigata Ladies, a final they will again be expected to win comfortably.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Kai Junko, Isokane Midori, Nakajima Emi, Sawa Homare, Ji So Yun, Tanaka Yoko, Watanabe Ayaka, Kawasumi Nahomi (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Beverly Goebel-Yanez (Tanaka Yoko, 43 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Rebecca Moros, Minamiyama Chiaki, Kyokawa Mai
Scorers: Takase Megumi (68 mins), Beverly Goebel-Yanez (72 mins), Ji So Yun (88 mins)
Booked: Ji So Yun

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Ono Suzuka, Michikura Hiroko, Miyasako Tamami, Sato Ai, Nasu Maiko (capt), Matsunaga Tomoe, Tsutsumi Saki, Kobayashi Makiko, Matsunaga Yoshie, Nakade Hikari
Subs: Noichi Aya (Nakade Hikari, 59 mins), Haji Madoka (Matsunaga Yoshie, 71 mins), Sakaguchi Sakie (Matsunaga Tomoe, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Miyakawa Hazuki
Scorers: Nakade Hikari (58 mins), Kobayashi Makiko (86 mins)
Booked: Nasu Maiko, Ono Suzuka


Match 34:
Okayama Yunogo Belle  0 - 1  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 1,769)

Okayama Yunogo Belle were dominant in the early stages of this semi-final, and an early rasping shot from Yokoyama rebounded off the crossbar, a chance which came as a result of indecision in defence from Takamura. As in their victory over Beleza, Niigata looked to the speed and skill of Yamazaki and McCarty up front, and the former had a good chance from an overhead kick, though she was offside and Fukumoto made a good save in any case. Another defensive mistake at the other end almost allowed Nakano to score as Belle piled on the pressure, but she skewed her shot wide. Niigata had another good chance to score, Kamionobe blasting over after Saeki had done very well to break through two defenders, and the feeling was that Niigata would have to make the most of the few chances they were getting. McCarty had two good chances in quick succession, the second a header which flashed across the Belle goal.

Neither side made a change at half-time, with Belle again coming out strong to start the half. A tremendous shot by Nakano was met with an equally fine save which pushed the ball onto the bar and away to safety. For the next ten minutes there were few clear chances and somewhat against the run of pla Niigata took the lead, and again their heroine was Kamionobe Megumi. McCarty held the ball up well and played it off to Kamionobe, who having had her initial left-footed shot blocked, then struck with her unfavoured right. With Fukumoto not getting enough of her glove on the ball, it found its way into the top right-hand corner of the net to give Niigata a surprise lead in the 61st minute. Yamazaki had a glorious chance just minutes later but Fukumoto excelled herself in getting across to block, as Niigata continued to attack, not content to sit on a single goal lead. At the other end Belle attacked furiously, with Ichitani in the Niigata goal tested repeatedly. Belle's players found themselves offside on a number of occasions and their tactics were somewhat predictable for the Niigata defenders, with corner kicks repeatedly aimed at Miyazaki dealt with easily.

McCarty made way for Oishi Sayaka, with Saeki Aya replaced by Hirai Sakina as the front players tired. Belle brought on Nakagawa for Yokoyama as they desperately sought an equaliser. Just entering additional time another superb save from Ichitani denied Yamaguchi Mami, who had just come on moments earlier, to win the game for Niigata, who have now beaten both Beleza and Belle in the same season for the first time ever. They move on to their second Cup final in three years on Monday afternoon.

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Fukumoto Miho (capt), Kado Yuka, Miyazaki Yuka, Tsuhako Yumiko, Takahashi Haruka, Nakano Manami, Miyama Aya, Fushiki Kaho, Yokoyama Kumi, Arimachi Saori, Matsuoka Miki
Subs: Nakagawa Chihiro (Yokoyama Kumi, 82 mins), Yamaguchi Mami (Arimachi Saori, 89 mins)
Unused subs: Ikegaya Natsumi, Yasuda Kuniko, Mizushima Kumi

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Ichitani Tomoko, Kitahara Kana, Takamura Chisato, Nakamura Kaede, Obara Yuria, Yamazaki Marumi, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Saito Yuri, Kodama Keiko, Saeki Aya, Tiffany McCarty
Subs: Oishi Sayaka (Tiffany McCarty, 78 mins), Hirai Sakina (Saeki Aya, 84 mins), Yamamoto Arina (Kodama Keiko, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Sakaguchi Moeno
Scorers: Kamionobe Megumi (61 mins)
Booked: Saeki Aya


Final Match, to be played Monday 23rd of December:

Match 35:
INAC Kobe Leonessa versus Albirex Niigata Ladies