The 37th Empress' Cup Semi-Final Matches

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

Match 45:
Nippon TV Beleza  1 - 1  Albirex Niigata Ladies
Albirex Niigata Ladies win 3-2 on penalties after extra time
(Attendance: 6,155)

Niigata progressed to their third final in five years when they beat favourites Beleza on penalties after another fine defensive performance to deny the league champions their chance at another double. Oishi Sayaka took advantage of a fortuitous deflection off Iwashimizu Azusa to score the lead goal after eleven minutes though Nakasato Yu scored later in the half to equalise. Both sides had decent chances in the second half and in extra time but couldn't find the net. The eventual hero was Niigata goalkeeper Fukumura Kanae who saved three Beleza penalties. Having lost their first two finals to INAC Kobe they will be determined to put things right third time around.

Nippon TV Beleza:
Yamashita Ayaka, Shimizu Risa, Muramatsu Tomoko, Ariyoshi Saori, Iwashimizu Azusa (capt), Nakasato Yu, Uetsuji Yumi, Hara Natsuko, Sakaguchi Mizuho, Tanaka Mina, Momiki Yuka
Subs: Hasegawa Yui (Shimizu Risa, HT), Arakawa Eriko (Momiki Yuka, 84 mins), Sumida Rin (Arakawa Eriko, 109 mins)
Unused subs: Soyama Kanako, Kiryu Nanase
Scorers: Nakasato Yu (34 mins)
Booked: Muramatsu Tomoko

Albirex Niigata Ladies:
Fukumura Kanae, Kitahara Kana, Sayama Momoko, Nakamura Kaede, Kojima Miku, Kamionobe Megumi (capt), Sakaguchi Moeno, Yamada Shoko, Saeki Aya, Oishi Sayaka, Yamazaki Marumi
Subs: Watanabe Ayaka (Saeki Aya, 62 mins), Kawasaki Saya (Yamazaki Marumi, Start of Second Half in Extra Time)
Unused subs: Koganemaru Sachie, Yamamoto Arina, Saito Yuri
Scorers: Oishi Sayaka (11 mins)

Match 46:
Vegalta Sendai Ladies  0 - 2  INAC Kobe Leonessa
(Attendance: 5,506)

Vegalta Sendai followed their predecessors TEPCO Mareeze and the YKK Tohoku Flappers in losing two consecutive cup semi-finals as they were unable to find a way past INAC Kobe, who progress to their sixth final in eight seasons as favourites to again lift the trophy. Kobe took the lead with six minutes remaining in the first half, Ohno heading home after Takase had first headed on from a corner kick. Kobe's second decisive goal came just after the hour mark, Nakajima Emi finishing off a fine move down the right with Kawasumi and Kinga combining to unlock the Sendai defence. Sendai did their best but were again unable to find their scoring form from the league and will have to try again next year.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies:
Brittany Cameron, Chiba Kozue, Yamamoto Risa, Sakai Yuki, Ideue Asako, Kawamura Yuri, Tahara Nozomi, Kakazu Asuka (capt), Inoue Ayaka, Nakano Manami, Arimachi Saori
Subs: Ono Hitomi (Arimachi Saori, 65 mins), Yasumoto Sawako (Kakazu Asuka, 68 mins), Hamada Haruka (Tahara Nozomi, 75 mins)
Unused subs: Takenaka Rei, Takahashi Nana

INAC Kobe Leonessa:
Kaihori Ayumi, Kinga Yukari, Sameshima Aya, Tanaka Asuna, Kai Junko, Nakajima Emi, Sawa Homare, Ito Miki, Kawasumi Nahomi, Ohno Shinobu (capt), Takase Megumi
Subs: Masuya Rika (Ohno Shinobu, 80 mins), Kyokawa Mai (Takase Megumi, 86 mins)
Unused subs: Shibusawa Anna, Saito Natsumi, Ito Kanako
Scorers: Ohno Shinobu (39 mins), Nakajima Emi (61 mins)


Final Match, to be played on December 27th:

Match 47:
Albirex Niigata Ladies - INAC Kobe Leonessa