The 36th Empress' Cup - Second Round Results

Second Round Matches, ties played Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of December:

Match 13:
Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara  3 - 1  Seiwa Gakuen High School
(Attendance: 353)

Seiwa Gakuen started well in this meeting with Nojima, who may have been surprised by the ferocity of their opponent's play. In the end Nojima had just too much quality for the local schoolgirls though, with Minamino Arisa scoring a hat-trick. Seiwa's star player Abe Yukiko had equalised just after half-time but there was to be no fairytale victory for her side.

Shoji Kaho makes a poor connection with the ball
as the first chance of the game falls to Seiwa Gakuen

After an initial shot hit the underside of the bar, Inoue Yurie competes with goalkeeper Endo Chiaki

With neither getting a decent touch the ball fell loose and Minamino Arisa scored easily

Sakamoto Juri returned for Nojima having not played since the second game of the season

Shimoyama Riko takes the ball around Nanjo Masayo but determined work
from Sakamoto Juri prevented her from scoring

Seiwa Gakuen were competitive and drew level with a fine goal from Abe Yukiko

Matsui Ayano looks to shoot but Omiya Reona gets in an important block

Midway through the second half Minamino scored her second to restore Nojima's lead

Minamino completed her hat-trick with six minutes remaining.
Nagasawa Madoka had a hand in all three goals

Match 14:
JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies U-18  0 - 4  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 110)

JEF's youth side had no answer to the power of the Kunoichi, and they marched into the third round to join the top eight Nadeshiko League sides. Kristie Mewis scored twice between goals from Nasu Maiko and Matsunaga Yoshie.

Match 15:
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Youth  0 - 0  AS Harima Albion
AS Harima Albion win 4-3 on penalties after extra time
(Attendance: 195)

A game of very few chances ultimately went to penalties, which Harima won to see them through. Urawa's youth team were impressive and will feel hard done-by on missing out, though should feel proud of their efforts.

Kirihata Kotono dives on the difficult surface to deny Takahashi Hana

Takahashi had another chance after the ball came to her off the crossbar,
but her headed attempt lacked sufficient power

Harima won 4-3 on penalty kicks. Here, Kirihata watches as Nagano Fuka's penalty attempt misses

Match 16:
Sfida Setagaya FC  0 - 1  Fujieda Junshin High School (aet)
(Attendance: 216)

Fujieda Junshin had a fine victory over Setagaya, with the only goal of the game coming from Kono Fuka in the first half of extra-time. Junshin progress to the third round as the only remaining non-league side.

Match 17:
Ehime FC Ladies  3 - 2  JFA Academy Fukushima
(Attendance: 130)

The JFA Academy looked good for a third round appearance but Ehime fought back and scored at the end of the first half, second half and extra time to win the game. The Academy's two goals came in the opening fourteen minutes courtesy of Kitagawa Hikaru and Moriya Miyabi. Ehime's replies came from Haruyama Saori and Nishigawa Sayumi to force extra-time, with the winner at the death coming from Oya Ayumi.

Match 18:
Tokiwagi Gakuen High School  3 - 2  Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki
(Attendance: 312)

Tokiwagi Gakuen, back in Sendai for this second round match, had an exciting victory over this year's Challenge League champions Takatsuki. The local favourites were two goals up after just sixteen minutes, Sugihara Haruna and Nishikawa Ayaka scoring, before Takatsuki pulled a goal back through Honda Saki to make it 2-1 to Tokiwagi at half-time. With eight minutes remaining Ichise Nana scored a rare goal to double Tokiwagi's lead again before Hazuki Yuki scored to give Takatsuki hope as the game went into additional time. There was to be no equaliser though, and Tokiwagi move on to the third round to face Niigata.

Following a burst down the middle, Kawasaki Saya plays the ball to her left for Sugihara Haruna

Sugihara scores easily, with the Takatsuki players astonished to see no offside decision

Nishikawa Ayaka (#7) gets a touch on the ball to deflect it home for Tokiwagi's second

Shiraki Akari, who signed for Nadeshiko League champions Urawa this week,
holds the ball up with Honda Saki and Hatanaka Miyuka defending

A Nishikawa free kick is only deflected upwards by Ono...

with Ichise Nana the fastest to respond to make the score 3-1 in Tokiwagi's favour

Match 19:
FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme  2 - 2  Ange Violet Hiroshima
Ange Violet Hiroshima win 8-7 on penalties after extra time
(Attendance: 631)

Kibi traveled the relatively short distance west to take on Ange Violet, and hopes were raised of a rare victory when Nishikawa Asuka gave them the lead early in the first half. Ange Violet replied almost immediately through Katsurama Fumina and midway through the second half took the lead, Saihara Mizuki the scorer. An own goal forced extra-time which led to penalties. After some poor penalties on both sides - seven were missed in total - Ange Violet emerged the victors and next take on Vegalta Sendai.

Match 20:
Daisho Gakuen High School  0 - 1  Nittaidai FC Ladies
(Attendance: 189)

A very even game was decided just after half-time when substitute Hirata Hikari finished off a move down the left. Daisho Gakuen showed some quality on the field but just didn't have enough to trouble Nittaidai.

Oi Minami goes close with a free kick in the first half

Hirata Hikari scores off a Yamakawa cross two minutes after coming on at half-time

Matsuda Kasumi only started three games in goal in the Challenge League,
but today was preferred to Inoue Nene

Third Round Matches, ties to be played Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th of December:

Match 21:
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies versus Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara

Match 22:
Iga FC Kunoichi versus AS Elfen Saitama

Match 23:
INAC Kobe Leonessa versus AS Harima Albion

Match 24:
Fujieda Junshin High School versus JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies

Match 25:
Nippon TV Beleza versus Ehime FC Ladies

Match 26:
Tokiwagi Gakuen High School versus Albirex Niigata Ladies

Match 27:
Vegalta Sendai Ladies versus Ange Violet Hiroshima

Match 28:
Nittaidai FC Ladies versus Okayama Yunogo Belle


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

Match 29:
Winner of Match 21 versus Winner of Match 22

Match 30:
Winner of Match 23 versus Winner of Match 24

Match 31:
Winner of Match 25 versus Winner of Match 26

Match 32:
Winner of Match 27 versus Winner of Match 28


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

Match 33:
Winner of Match 29 versus Winner of Match 30

Match 34:
Winner of Match 31 versus Winner of Match 32


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

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