The 36th Empress' Cup - Quarter-Final Results

Quarter-Final Matches, ties played Sunday 21st of December:

Match 29:
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies  2 - 0  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 860)

Iga's form has improved considerably recently, especially with the significant contribution made by Kristie Mewis, for whom this was her last appearance for the Kunoichi. However, Urawa were expectedly too strong for Iga and had little trouble in winning through to the semi-final. Shibata Hanae scored just before half-time and Kishikawa Natsuki made the game safe with just under fifteen minutes remaining, with Kira Chinatsu involved in both goals.

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Kohata Shiho, Dozono Ayano, Wada Naoko, Norimatsu Ruka, Saito Akane, Kishikawa Natsuki, Shibata Hanae, Kato Chika, Kira Chinatsu, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Seike Kiko (Saito Akane, 63 mins), Usui Rie (Wada Naoko, 83 mins), Ishii Saki (Kato Chika, 85 mins)
Unused subs: Matsumoto Mamiko, Tomari Shiho
Scorers: Shibata Hanae (44 mins), Kishikawa Natsuki (76 mins)

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Yamaguchi Ayako, Ohashi Mio, Miyasako Tamami, Nasu Maiko (capt), Tsutsumi Saki, Sugita Ami, Haji Madoka, Kiyohara Marie, Matsunaga Yoshie, Kristie Mewis
Subs: Ogawa Shiho (Matsunaga Yoshie, 57 mins), Noichi Aya (Kiyohara Marie, 84 mins)
Unused subs: Sawada Norimi, Kobayashi Misaki, Matsunaga Tomoe


Match 30:
INAC Kobe Leonessa  0 - 1  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 1,052)

Ikadai Risa was the heroine for JEF United today, as they beat INAC Kobe for the third time this year today and progressed to another Cup semi-final. INAC were very poor up front and indeed had no shots at goal in the first half. Sawa Homare was replaced very early in the game due to injury, though it is not thought to be serious.

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Miyake Shiori, Kai Junko, Minamiyama Chiaki, Tanaka Asuna, Nakajima Emi, Sawa Homare, Masuya Rika, Kawasumi Nahomi, Takase Megumi (capt), Kyokawa Mai
Subs: Ito Miki (Sawa Homare, 9 mins), Tanaka Yoko (Ito Miki, 61 mins), Isokane Midori (Masuya Rika, 77 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Michigami Ayaka
Booked: Takase Megumi

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Ueno Saki, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Wakabayashi Minori, Chino Shoko, Anzai Yuka, Fukasawa Risa, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Ikadai Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Hosaka Nodoka (Setoguchi Kozue, 64 mins), Tsurumi Ayaka (Anzai Yuka, 86 mins), Matsuura Nagisa (Ikadai Risa, 90+2 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Kamogawa Miho
Scorers: Ikadai Risa (57 mins)
Booked: Wakabayashi Minori


Match 31:
Nippon TV Beleza  3 - 0  Albirex Niigata Ladies
(Attendance: 829)

A strong performance from Beleza's young players ensured that there would be no repeat of last year's surprise Niigata victory in Sendai. Beleza attacked relentlessly from kickoff and finally got reward for their endeavours when Tanaka Mina headed home a right-sided cross from Momiki Yuka. Only when this goal was scored did Niigata awake from their slumber and attempt to exert pressure on the Beleza goal.

Two goals in the first ten minutes of the second half made the game safe for Beleza, Iwashimizu scoring the first after a corner kick caused confusion in the Niigata box, and the second came from Hasegawa Yui, with the outstanding Momiki Yuka supplying her second assist of the afternoon.

Albirex Niigata hoped for a repeat of their quarter-final victory over Beleza in Sendai last year

Yamashita Ayaka kept her place in goal for Nippon TV Beleza

Beleza dominated the opening half and their best chance came from this indirect free kick...

Momiki's initial shot came off the post,
with Hara inexplicably missing an open goal on the rebound

The opening goal came courtesy of this cross from Momiki...

Tanaka Mina expertly glanced the cross past Ichitani in the Niigata goal

Niigata came to life once they'd conceded and created some trouble
from set-pieces such as this corner kick

Beleza's young players, in particular Sumida, Hasegawa, Shimizu and Momiki (above)
again showed their determination and focus

Iwashimizu Azusa volleys home for Beleza's second goal

Hasegawa Yui scores five minutes later to end the game as a contest

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Muramatsu Tomoko, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Ariyoshi Saori, Hara Natsuko, Momiki Yuka, Hasegawa Yui, Sumida Rin, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Tanaka Mina
Subs: Kiryu Nanase (Sumida Rin, 73 mins), Yamaguchi Mami (Hasegawa Yui, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Kinoshita Shiori, Kobayashi Yayoi
Scorers: Tanaka Mina (21 mins), Iwashimizu Azusa (50 mins), Hasegawa Yui (55 mins)

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Ichitani Tomoko, Kitahara Kana, Sayama Momoko, Obara Yuria, Yamamoto Arina, Takahashi Haruka, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Sakaguchi Moeno, Saito Yuri, Saeki Aya, Oishi Sayaka
Subs: Nakamura Kaede (Yamamoto Arina, HT), Tiffany McCarty (Oishi Sayaka, 58 mins), Yamazaki Marumi (Sakaguchi Moeno, 76 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Yamada Shoko


Match 32:
Vegalta Sendai Ladies  6 - 1  Okayama Yunogo Belle
(Attendance: 1,679)

Belle's only goalkeeper Fukumoto Miho was still unable to play due to injury today, so they opted to put defender Taniguchi Kikumi in goal. The Belle players then spent almost the entire ninety minutes defending deep in their own half hoping to keep the score down.

Vegalta Sendai had seventeen shots at goal in the first half but were unable to make the breakthrough, which eventually came from Sameshima Aya five minutes after the restart. Hamada Haruka scored a hat-trick, with the first coming five minutes later. Thereafter it was simply a question of how many Vegalta would score. In the end they added another four, Kakazu Asuka and Irie Miki the other two players to get on the scoresheet. Belle did manage to score once, Arimachi Saori heading in a Miyama cross seconds before the final whistle.

Vegalta Sendai move on to face Beleza in their first semi-final appearance. Belle's priority for the new year is the same as that twelve months ago, to recruit more players to their ranks.

With Fukumoto Miho still unable to play, Okayama Yunogo Belle put
defender Taniguchi Kikumi in goal for the first time

Vegalta Sendai had no such problems and fully expected to reach the semi-finals for the first time

After a scoreless first half, this shot from Sameshima Aya found the net early in the second half

Hamada Haruka scored a second hat-trick in two games, this is her second of the afternoon

Taniguchi did well generally given that this was her first appearance in goal.
Here she claws the ball away from Sakai Yuki

Late substitute Irie Miki scored Vegalta's final goal,
powering her way through the exhausted Belle defence

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Brittany Cameron, Osafune Kana, Yamamoto Risa, Sakai Yuki, Sameshima Aya, Kawamura Yuri (capt), Tahara Nozomi, Kakazu Asuka, Takara Ryoko, Hamada Haruka, Ono Hitomi
Subs: Uetsuji Yumi (Tahara Nozomi, HT), Irie Miki (Ono Hitomi, 75 mins), Sasaki Mayu (Takara Ryoko, 81 mins)
Unused subs: Saita Yuki, Inoue Ayaka
Scorers: Sameshima Aya (50 mins), Hamada Haruka (53, 76, 80 mins), Kakazu Asuka (58 mins), Irie Miki (86 mins)

Okayama Yunogo Belle:
Taniguchi Kikumi, Kado Yuka, Kitaura Miho, Mizushima Kumi, Takahashi Sachie, Kuzuma Riyo, Nakano Manami, Miyama Aya (capt), Asano Miki, Arimachi Saori, Matsuoka Miki
Unused subs: Fukumoto Miho, Kawano Saki, Fushiki Kaho, Nakada Maiko, Tanaka Mayu
Scorers: Arimachi Saori (90+3 mins)


Semi-Final Matches, ties to be played Sunday 28th of December:

Match 33:
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies versus JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies

Match 34:
Nippon TV Beleza versus Vegalta Sendai Ladies


Final Match, to be played Thursday 1st of January:

Match 35:
Winner of Match 33 versus Winner of Match 34