NEWS

Defending champions Nippon TV Beleza and Nadeshiko League champions Urawa Reds advanced to the semifinals of the All-Japan Women’s Championship after winning their quarterfinal matches on Wednesday.

Japan internationals Shinobu Ohno and Yuki Nagasato both struck twice as Beleza downed Nadeshiko League counterparts Okayama Yunogo Belle 5-1, while Urawa defeated JEF United Chiba Ladies 2-0 with goals from Miyuki Yanagita and Saki Kumagai.

Last year’s runners-up INAC Kobe Leonessa beat Nadeshiko League second-division winners AS Elfen Sayama 2-0 thanks to goals from Asuna Tanaka and substitute Tomoko Suzuki, and TEPCO Mareeze edged Albirex Niigata Ladies 1-0 on a Mami Nakamura goal.

In Monday’s semifinals at Nishigaoka Stadium in Tokyo, Beleza will take on TEPCO Mareeze, while Reds Ladies will meet INAC Kobe.

At Coca-Cola West Hiroshima Stadium, Beleza opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Ohno connected with a fine cross from Yukari Kinga in the area.

Okayama attempted to rally but were often frustrated by Beleza’s mobility and pressure in midfield.

Beleza widened the lead shortly before the break when Nagasato converted a penalty. The spot kick was awarded to the defending champions after the forward was brought down in the box.

After halftime, Beleza remained in control and Ohno found the target again in the 64th minute.

Okayama and Japan midfielder Aya Miyama pulled a goal back three minutes later, firing in a Miki Matsuoka feed from mid-range.

Beleza added another goal in the 75th minute after Nagasato intercepted an Okayama ball for her second score of the day, and in the 83rd minute Mana Iwabuchi fired home an Ohno cross to wrap up the scoring for the Tokyo-based team.

“The second goal hurt us,” Okayama manager Midori Honda said. “Giving away one goal to Beleza is something you have to be ready for, but our players couldn’t win loose balls. After going down 2-0, we had to press forward to try and score, and then we suffered from their counterattacks. I don’t think we were as bad as the score suggests.”

Beleza manager Kei Hoshikawa said, “It was hard for us to play our passing game because of the poor pitch. But we were able to score at good moments, which helped us a lot.”

Asked about his team’s next opponents Mareeze, Hoshikawa said, “If we can play our football, I am convinced that we can beat them.”

Earlier in the day, Kobe played aggressively to keep Sayama in check, but Sayama worked hard in response.

Kobe went ahead in the 28th minute through Asuna Tanaka.

Sayama might have changed the course of the game if midfielder Mai Sato had found the target on a golden chance in the 59th minute, but Kobe made it 2-0 when Suzuki slotted home a Maiko Nasu header in the 82nd minute five minutes after coming off the bench.

“I think we showed the good parts of our game from time to time, but they were better in every aspect, such as physique, power and speed,” Sayama player-manager Akiko Masuda said. “I guess that was the difference between us and the first-division side.”

Kobe manager Keiji Tabuchi said, “We struggled to break down Sayama’s solid defense. It took us a while before we found our form as, before the start of this tournament, we hadn’t played since the league finished [last month], so I’m glad we got this result.”

Tabuchi added: “We are aiming to not only reach the final but win there.”