The 37th Empress' Cup Quarter-Final Matches

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

Match 41:
Nippon TV Beleza  4 - 1  Iga FC Kunoichi
(Attendance: 4,087)

Iga were no match for Beleza in this quarter-final match and the league champions dominated the Kunoichi for the entire match. Beleza's four goals all came from their younger players, Tanaka Mina, Nakasato Yu and two from Momiki Yuka. Gloria Douglas scored a consolation goal for Iga but it was a disappointing end to the season for the Mie side. Beleza next face Niigata.

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Hara Natsuko, Hasegawa Yui, Sumida Rin, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Tanaka Mina, Momiki Yuka
Subs: Nakasato Yu (Sumida Rin, HT), Uetsuji Yumi (Hasegawa Yui, 70 mins), Kiryu Nanase (Momiki Yuka, 84 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Arakawa Eriko
Scorers: Momiki Yuka (13, 80 mins), Tanaka Mina (34 mins), Nakasato Yu (56 mins)
Booked: Ariyoshi Saori

Iga FC Kunoichi:
Kuno Fubuki, Hatanaka Miyuka, Michikura Hiroko, Nasu Maiko (capt), Miyasako Tamami, Matsunaga Yoshie, Sugita Ami, Haji Madoka, Suzuki Kaoruko, Sonomura Nana, Ogawa Shiho
Subs: Gloria Douglas (Sonomura Nana, HT), Meleana Shim (Suzuki Kaoruko, 60 mins), Shimojo Aya (Matsunaga Yoshie, 67 mins)
Unused subs: Isashi Kaede, Noichi Aya
Scorers: Gloria Douglas (68 mins)

Match 42:
Albirex Niigata Ladies  2 - 0  JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
(Attendance: 857)

Albirex Niigata produced a fine defensive display to shut out JEF United and scored twice in the second half to move on to the semi-finals. After a scramble in the box from a Kamionobe corner, Saeki Aya poked home the opener after sixty-nine minutes and the second goal came from a moment of magic from Kamionobe, flicking the ball over both her own head and that of Sakuramoto Naoko to provide Oishi Sayaka with an easy chance to score a fine goal. Niigata take on Beleza for the right to appear in a third final in five seasons.

Nakamura Kaede leaps to block a shot from Kawamura Mari.
The Niigata defence was solid from beginning to end

Kamionobe Megumi created both goals for Niigata, the first from a routine corner kick,
the second from an anything-but-routine exhibition of skill

Fukusawa Risa tries one of several attempts JEF United made
which were more hopeful than expectant

Yamane Erina comes to the rescue after Yamazaki Marumi broke clear to shoot

Nakamura Kaede kept Sugasawa Yuika quiet throughout the game

The first goal came from defensive lapses. Here Sakuramoto Naoko attempts to clear but hits the ball off her own standing leg...

... allowing Saeki Aya to swivel and poke the ball home

The Niigata players with a mixture of joy and relief, as JEF United had been exerting formidable pressure at the other end since the restart

Fukumura Kanae, a graduate of nearby Tokiwagi Gakuen High School, was rarely bothered and this shot over the bar near the end was about as worrying as things got for her

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Fukumura Kanae, Kitahara Kana, Nakamura Kaede, Watanabe Ayaka, Kojima Miku, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Sakaguchi Moeno, Yamada Shoko, Saeki Aya, Oishi Sayaka, Yamazaki Marumi
Subs: Sayama Momoko (Watanabe Ayaka, 84 mins), Kawasaki Saya (Saeki Aya, 88 mins), Kubota Mayu (Yamada Shoko, 90 mins)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Saito Yuri
Scorers: Saeki Aya (69 mins), Oishi Sayaka (86 mins)

JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies:
Yamane Erina, Ueno Saki, Sakuramoto Naoko (capt), Wakabayashi Minori, Isokane Midori, Fukasawa Risa, Setoguchi Kozue, Kawamura Mari, Hosaka Nodoka, Ikadai Risa, Sugasawa Yuika
Subs: Kamogawa Miho (Ikadai Risa, 67 mins), Chino Shoko (Wakabayashi Minori, 82 mins), Anzai Yuka (Hosaka Nodoka, 87 mins)
Unused subs: Nemoto Mio, Yanai Rina

Match 43:
Vegalta Sendai Ladies  0 - 0  Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
Vegalta Sendai Ladies win 5-3 on penalties after extra time
(Attendance: 2,053)

Brittany Cameron performed the heroics for Vegalta Sendai, saving a penalty from Naomoto Hikaru in a shoot-out which resulted when neither side could find the net either in normal time or in extra time. Both sides did go close on occasion, with Naomoto hitting the crossbar for Urawa and Kawamura doing likewise for Sendai. In the end Inoue Ayaka scored the winning penalty for Sendai who progress to their second successive semi-final.

Brittany Cameron was commanding in goal in her first appearance in Sendai this year

Early in the game Urawa were on top and here forced a good save from Cameron

Nagano Fuka misses poorly when expected to score and looked out of her depth at times

Kawamura Yuri tries a little too hard and smacks her shot against the bar

Kishikawa Natsuki received the only booking of the game for this challenge on Arimachi Saori, who recovered with no difficulties

The same could not be said for Manya Miho, stretchered off with what may be a recurrence of her long-term injury

Naomoto Hikaru attempts to chip Brittany Cameron...

... with the Vegalta Sendai players able to do little but watch the ball hit the crossbar

Tahara Nozomi started her first game for Sendai this season

Arimachi Saori stretches in the penalty box but was time and again foiled by the Urawa defence

Ikeda Sakiko was slightly injured in the second half but was able to continue

Brittany Cameron saves Urawa's second penalty in the eventual shootout,
Naomoto Hikaru the taker

Naomoto was understandably distraught, Cameron delighted

Inoue Ayaka scores Sendai's final penalty, sending them through to a semi-final meeting with INAC Kobe

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Brittany Cameron, Chiba Kozue, Yamamoto Risa, Sakai Yuki, Manya Miho, Kawamura Yuri, Tahara Nozomi, Kakazu Asuka (capt), Nakano Manami, Inoue Ayaka, Arimachi Saori
Subs: Ideue Asako (Manya Miho, 45 mins), Hamada Haruka (Kakazu Asuka, HT in ET)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Yasumoto Sawako, Ono Hitomi

Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies:
Ikeda Sakiko, Osafune Kana, Kohata Shiho, Usui Rie, Norimatsu Ruka, Kishikawa Natsuki, Naomoto Hikaru, Shibata Hanae, Nagano Fuka, Kira Chinatsu, Goto Michi (capt)
Subs: Kurishima Akari (Kishikawa Natsuki, Start of ET)
Unused subs: Tajiri Yumi, Ishii Saki, Wada Naoko, Shiraki Akari
Booked: Kishikawa Natsuki

Match 44:
AS Elfen Saitama  0 - 2  INAC Kobe Leonessa
(Attendance: 3,666)

INAC Kobe easily progressed to the semi-final stage against a feeble Saitama side which offered little either in attack or defence. Kobe scored early twice in the game to end any hope of an upset, Kinga Yukari heading in the first on nine minutes with Takase Megumi doubling the score ten minutes later. Kobe next face Vegalta Sendai.

AS Elfen Saitama:
Funada Mayu, Segi Aiki, Nara Misaki, Matsukubo Akari, Abby Erceg, Azami Rie (capt), Nakano Rino, Anna Green, Sarah Gregorius, Takahashi Saori, Sugihara Haruna
Subs: Hagiwara Aimi (Segi Aiki, 70 mins), Shimokawa Saori (Sugihara Haruna, 74 mins), Otani Erina (Matsukubo Akari, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Sakuragi Ayana, Matsuoka Sayuri

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Tanaka Asuna, Kai Junko, Sameshima Aya, Nakajima Emi, Sawa Homare, Ito Miki, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Masuya Rika (Takase Megumi, 61 mins), Ito Kanako (Ohno Shinobu, 78 mins), Minamiyama Chiaki (Nakajima Emi, 88 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Saito Natsumi
Scorers: Kinga Yukari (9 mins), Takase Megumi (19 mins)


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

Match 45:
Nippon TV Beleza - Albirex Niigata Ladies

Match 46:
Vegalta Sendai Ladies - INAC Kobe Leonessa


Final Match, to be played on December 27th:

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