NEWS

Urawa Reds Ladies advanced to the All-Japan Women’s Championship final for the second straight year after beating their Nadeshiko League counterparts Albirex Niigata Ladies 3-1 in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon at Nishigaoka Stadium in Tokyo.

Reds Ladies took an early lead after forward Ayako Kitamoto latched on to a fine ball from Mitsue Iwakura to score the opener in the 10th minute.
The goal helped last year’s runners-up find their pace and take control of the game.
Kitamoto combined well with her strike partner Eriko Arakawa and midfielder Ayano Dozono as they frustrated the Niigata defense.
In the 27th minute, Arakawa headed a Yuki Tsuchihashi cross to Dozono, who tapped-in from close range for Reds’ 2-0 lead.
Niigata replied in the 74th minute when forward Yuika Sugasawa reacted well to a poor clearance.
But Reds Ladies continued to threaten the Niigata goal and Iwakura hit the bar 15 minutes from time, before the midfielder found the net off a Dozono feed in the 84th minute.
“We were able to play according to our plans in the first half,” said Reds Ladies manager Hiroshi Muramatsu. “The opener helped us settle into the game, but it would have been better if we could have scored our third goal in the first half.”
“In the previous tournament on January 1 this year, we ended with disappointment. This time, we’d love to finish things off with smiles on our faces.”
Urawa will meet INAC Kobe Leonessa in the final on January 1 at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
INAC, who reached the final two years ago, overcame a sluggish first half and went on to outscore Tokiwagi Gakuen High School 5-0.
Miwa Yonetsu and Asuka Tanaka scored twice each, with Yuki Sakai finding the target once.
Tokiwagi, who upset defending champions Nippon TV Beleza in the third round, frustrated the Nadeshiko League side with their tough defense in the first half and attempted to create chances on counters.
But INAC showed the difference in quality in the second half and opened the scoring in the 49th minute when forward Yonetsu struck home a Tanaka rebound from close range.
In the 66th minute, Tanaka took her turn with a header off a Yonetsu cross, and Sakai made it 3-0 in the 74th minute.
A minute later, Yonetsu scored her second by reacting to her own rebound in the area, before Tanaka completed the scoring for her side with a blast from outside the box in the 81st minute.
The January 1 final will kick off at 10:30 a.m.