The 37th Empress' Cup First Round

First Round Matches, ties played on November 7th and 8th:

Match 1:
Diosa Izumo F.C.  0 - 4  Fujieda Junshin High School
(Attendance: 115)

Diosa Izumo were knocked out of contention for promotion to the Challenge League last week and were easily beaten by Fujieda Junshin High School, for whom Kimotsuki Moe opened the scoring in the first half. After the break Yokozawa Mai added a second before a brace from first year student Iwashita Kurumi ensured the scoreline reflected more accurately Junshin's superiority. Their reward is a match against reigning league and cup champions Nippon TV Beleza.

Match 2:
Waseda University  1 - 0  Fukuoka J. Anclas
(Attendance: 101)

Fukuoka J. Anclas became the first Nadeshiko League club to be knocked out of this year's cup competition as Matsubara Arisa scored in first half additional time to give Waseda University a well-deserved victory. Waseda will again fancy their chances against AS Harima Albion in the Second Round.

Match 3:
Niigata University of Health and Welfare  1 - 2  NGU Nagoya FC Ladies (aet)
(Attendance: 150)

A marvellous goal from Takahashi Miyuki gave the NUHW the lead with less than half an hour of this match to go, but Sugiyama Yuka equalised with twelve minutes remaining to force extra time. Seven minutes into the extra period Tokiwagi Gakuen High School and Kibi International University graduate Koike Ayano scored direct from a free kick to give her childhood team the lead for the first time. Nagoya next take on Takatsuki, who have relegation worries.

Match 4:
Kanto Gakuen University  0 - 5  Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences
(Attendance: 92)

Last year's inter-collegiate runners-up were far too much for Kanto Gakuen University to contain and the Osaka side easily beat them to move on to a meeting with Iga FC Kunoichi. Honda Yuka scored the OUHS's first two goals and they went three ahead courtesy of an own goal. Two further goals from Yoshida Shiho and Mihashi Mana in the final ten minutes underlined the Kansai team's superiority.

Match 5:
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Youth  0 - 0  JFA Academy Fukushima
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Youth win 5-4 on penalties after extra time
(Attendance: 280)

Last year Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Youth lost on penalties to AS Harima Albion having dominated the match, but this year they had a happier ending against the JFA Academy Fukushima, Kizaki Aoi scoring the final penalty which takes them through to play Albirex Niigata Ladies.

Match 6:
Chinzei Gakuin High School  2 - 3  Nippon TV Menina
(Attendance: 106)

Following a scoreless first half, this game exploded into life after the break, with Chinzei Gakuin taking the lead through Murakami Mao four minutes after the restart. Menina responded with two goals in three minutes, Hara Ibuki and Shimanaka Miho the scorers. Just as Menina felt that they had a grip on the game, Chinzei Gakuin equalised through Yoshioka Anan. Menina kept their heads and went ahead for good with less than fifteen minutes remaining, Shimanaka scoring her second of the game. All three Menina goals were created by Miura Narumi and she will look forward to taking on Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara next Saturday.

Match 7:
Kamimura Gakuen High School  3 - 0  Club Fields Linda
(Attendance: 88)

Kamimura Gakuen eased into the Second Round with a straightforward three-goal victory over Sapporo's Club Fields Linda. Sonoda Yuuna scored in both halves with Yoshida Eri adding the third deep into additional time. Inter-collegiate champions Nittaidai lay in wait for the Kagoshima schoolgirls.

Match 8:
Sfida Setagaya FC  9 - 0  Seiwa Gakuen High School
(Attendance: 220)

Seiwa Gakuen suffered the heaviest defeat of any team in the opening round, with Sfida Setagaya showing no mercy from the first minutes. Mori Hitomi scored a hat-trick and there was a goal each for Nakamura Yushika, Sunoki Yurie, Nagata Maya, Nagasaki Akane, Nagasawa Yume and Fukuhara Nao. A tougher challenge awaits in the form of JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies.

Match 9:
Japan Soccer College Ladies  1 - 0  Tokoha Gakuen Tachibana Senior High School
(Attendance: 73)

The Japan Soccer College were recently relegated from Nadeshiko League Division 1 but found some relief from their woes today as they beat Tokoha Gakuen in a tight game, the only goal scored by Sakaguchi Yuki two minutes after half-time. The College next play Vegalta Sendai Ladies.

Match 10:
Daito Bunka University  2 - 0  Norddea Hokkaido
(Attendance: 250)

Kanto Universities League Division 2 side Daito Bunka University saw off Norddea Hokkaido of the Challenge League with surprising ease, the two-goal margin of victory belying the level of their superiority. Both goals came early in the game, the first from Yamazaki Moeko and the second from Murayama Momoka. Daito Bunka next play Ehime FC Ladies.

Match 11:
Tokiwagi Gakuen High School  0 - 1  Yokohama FC Seagulls
(Attendance: 167)

These sides have met five times this season, and this was Yokohama's third win over Tokiwagi Gakuen, who now move on to concentrate on the High School Championships to be held in January. Yoshida Mizuki, the Seagulls' top scorer in the Challenge League, scored the only goal today six minutes into the second half. Yokohama's next opponent are last year's runners-up Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies.

Match 12:
Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita  8 - 0  Ryukyu Deigos
(Attendance: 130)

Shizuoka Sangyo had no trouble in getting past Okinawa's first ever cup representative, and their were two goals each for Oda Kanna, Kuchiki Hikaru and Hirano Asami. Nishiyama Mei and Kubota Mitsuki, neither of whom scored in the league this year, both scored to round off a fine victory. They are likely to find the ambitious Nadeshiko League Division 2 champions Nagano a very different proposition.

Match 13:
Shikoku University Egrets  0 - 5  Yamato Sylphid
(Attendance: 136)

Shikoku University's new team was only founded this year and performed as well as could have been expected against Yamato Sylphid, who move on to face Okayama Yunogo Belle. Shikata Nao, who along with goalkeeper Onodera Shiho won the cup with Beleza, scored twice and there were also two goals for Naito Yuka with Suga Momoka also getting herself on the score sheet.

Match 14:
Kaishi Gakuen Japan Soccer College High School  0 - 4  FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme
(Attendance: 158)

Kibi put their recent troubles behind them to set up a date with AS Elfen Saitama, who were relegated today from Nadeshiko League Division 1. Yoshitake Manami had Kibi ahead after five minutes, and Kurakazu Shiho scored the crucial second in first half additional time. Kibi scored twice in the second half, their top scorer in the league this year, first year student Ikejiri Mayu with the first and Tachibana Mami with the second.

Match 15:
Hinomoto Gakuen High School  4 - 3  Tokuyama University (aet)
(Attendance: 177)

A thrilling match featuring five goals in extra time was finally decided in favour of the national high school champions from Himeji, who next play Ange Violet Hiroshima. Tokuyama University got off to the perfect start with a goal in the first minute from Ryu Sayaka. Hinomoto Gakuen equalised with a goal from Fujio Kirara and into twenty minutes of extra time the sides went. Tokuyama University again took the lead, Fujiki Sanoka the scorer on this occasion. Hinomoto Gakuen then scored twice to take the lead for the first time, Komatsu Yuki and Hiratuksa Maki scoring two fine goals, Hiratsuka's coming direct from a free kick. Tokuyama drew level three minutes later, Ichikawa Saki showing no nerves as she put away a spot kick. With two minutes remaining, Hinomoto Gakuen finally scored the winning goal, Yamamoto Kotoe staying calm to put the ball away after a scramble in the box.

Match 16:
University of Tsukuba  1 - 1  Bunnys Kyoto SC
Bunnys Kyoto SC win 4-3 on penalties after extra time
(Attendance: 68)

A tense game went to penalties as there was little to choose between the University of Tsukuba - the first-half leaders thanks to a Taira Remi goal - and Bunnys Kyoto SC, perennial league strugglers. Bunnys drew level seven minutes after the restart thanks to Kushige Aoi, who was their top scorer in the league this year. In the shootout the University of Tsukuba missed twice, Shibuya Yumiko with the winning strike which takes Bunnys through to face INAC Kobe Leonessa in the Second Round.


Second Round Matches, ties to be played on November 14th and 15th:

Match 17:
Nippon TV Beleza - Fujieda Junshin High School

Match 18:
AS Harima Albion - Waseda University

Match 19:
Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki - NGU Nagoya FC Ladies

Match 20:
Iga FC Kunoichi - Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences

Match 21:
Albirex Niigata Ladies - Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies Youth

Match 22:
Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara - Nippon TV Menina

Match 23:
Nittaidai Fields Yokohama - Kamimura Gakuen High School

Match 24:
JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies - Sfida Setagaya FC

Match 25:
Vegalta Sendai Ladies - Japan Soccer College Ladies

Match 26:
Ehime FC Ladies - Daito Bunka University

Match 27:
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies - Yokohama FC Seagulls

Match 28:
AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies - Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita

Match 29:
Okayama Yunogo Belle - Yamato Sylphid

Match 30:
AS Elfen Saitama - FC Kibikokusaidaigaku Charme

Match 31:
Ange Violet Hiroshima - Hinomoto Gakuen High School

Match 32:
INAC Kobe Leonessa - Bunnys Kyoto SC


Third Round Matches, ties to be played on November 21st and 22nd:

Match 33:
Winners of Match 17 - Winners of Match 18

Match 34:
Winners of Match 19 - Winners of Match 20

Match 35:
Winners of Match 21 - Winners of Match 22

Match 36:
Winners of Match 23 - Winners of Match 24

Match 37:
Winners of Match 25 - Winners of Match 26

Match 38:
Winners of Match 27 - Winners of Match 28

Match 39:
Winners of Match 29 - Winners of Match 30

Match 40:
Winners of Match 31 - Winners of Match 32


Quarter-Final Matches, ties to be played on December 19th:

Match 41:
Winners of Match 33 - Winners of Match 34

Match 42:
Winners of Match 35 - Winners of Match 36

Match 43:
Winners of Match 37 - Winners of Match 38

Match 44:
Winners of Match 39 - Winners of Match 40


Semi-Final Matches, ties to be played on December 23rd:

Match 45:
Winners of Match 41 - Winners of Match 42

Match 46:
Winners of Match 43 - Winners of Match 44


Final Match, to be played on December 27th:

Match 47:
Winners of Match 45 - Winners of Match 46