The 37th Empress's Cup had eight matches of the first round on Sunday 8 November. Teams who advance to the second round on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November were determined.

Pick-up Match 1

Japan Soccer College Ladies (Nadeshiko League Second Division/Niigata) 1-0 (0-0, 1-0) Tokoha Gakuen Tachibana High School (Tokai/Shizuoka)

In the first match at Technoport Fukui Stadium, Japan Soccer College Ladies (JSCL, Nadeshiko League Second Division/Niigata) and Tokoha Gakuen Tachibana High School (Tokai/Shizuoka) squared off against each other seeking for their first victory of the tournament.

Tokoha Gakuen created chances early on with two corner kicks, but both teams showed intense defence, not allowing the opponents to get into the box. Although JSCL also grabbed a goal-scoring opportunity in the 32nd minute, the match moved on to the second half without any goal.

Then, the goal was scored early into the second half. In the 47th minute, SANO Saki of JSCL attacked deeply into the left flank and sent a pass to SAKAGUCHI Yuki manning herself at the middle a bit tending to the left. Sakaguchi composedly fired a first-time shot, which went into the right corner of the net.

Tokoha Gakuen, trying to fight back, went on continuous attacks after sending on substitute forward OUCHI Rio. Even so, JSCL kept denying the attacks until the end. "Our strength tenacious defence led us to the victory," said JSCL coach YOSHIKAWA Hiroki. Tokoha Gakuen failed to make it to the next round in their first appearance in six years.

Match details (Japanese version only)

Pick-up Match 2

University of Tsukuba (Kanto/Ibaraki) 1-1 (1-0, 0-1, extra 1st 0-0, extra 2nd 0-0, PSO 3-4) Bunnys Kyoto SC (Kansai/Kyoto)

University of Tsukuba (Kanto/Ibaraki) and Bunnys Kyoto SC (Kansai/Kyoto) faced each other in the second match at Technoport Fukui Stadium. Despite the slippery pitch due to torrential rain, both teams showed powerful attacks early on. In the 37th minute, Tsukuba's TAIRA Remi opened the scoring when she responded to a loose ball from a left free kick.

Bunnys rallied back in the second half, as KUSHIGE Aoi headed a pass delivered into the box to get back on level terms in the 52nd minute. Into extra-time, both sides showed intense defence not to allow a goal, which forced the match into the second penalty shootouts of the tournament.

After first three kickers of each side came out successfully, the fourth of University of Tsukuba, who were kicking first, UETSUHARA Chika hit it off the post. After Bunnys converted in the fourth round, Tsukuba’s fifth kicker Taira's shot also struck the post before the match ended with a Bunny's 4-3 shootout win.

University of Tsukuba showed their quality but failed to win through the first round even with Japan's Universiade international YOKOYAMA Ai and YAMAMORI Anna and U-19 Japan's  MIZUTANI Yuki.

Match details (Japanese version only)

Other Matches

Chinzei Gakuin High School (Kyushu/Nagasaki)   2-3 (0-0, 2-3)   Nippon TV Menina (Kanto/Tokyo)
FC Sfida Setagaya (Nadeshiko League Second Division/Tokyo)   9-0 (4-0, 5-0)   Seiwa Gakuen High School  (Tohoku/Miyagi)
Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita (Tokai/Sizuoka)   8-0 (4-0, 4-0)   Ryukyu Deigos (Kyushu/Okinawa)
Shikoku University Egrets (Shikoku/Tokushima)   0-5 (0-2, 0-3)   Yamato Sylphid (Kanto/Kanagawa)
Kaishi Gakuen JSC High School (Hokushinetsu/Niigata)   0-4 (0-2, 0-2)   FC Kibi International University Charme (Nadeshiko League Second Division/Okayama)
Hinomoto Gakuen High School (Kansai/Hyogo)   4-3 (0-1, 1-0, extra 1st 1-1, extra 2nd 2-1)   Tokuyama University (Chugoku/Yamaguchi)

Coach and Players' Comments

YAMAMOTO Yumi (Bunnys Kyoto SC)
I was relieved when we got a victory. It was very tiring mentally, but I'm happy to win above all. We allowed an opening goal. Even so it was from a set-piece, not from in-play, and it also came in the first half. I knew we could come through if we played our game. It was big when we got the equaliser early in the second half during the time we were playing in our favour. Our second match is against INAC Kobe. But we have nothing to lose and will come out with a spirit of a challenger.

TABEI Yusuke, Coach (University of Tsukuba)
Not being satisfied with just playing in the tournament, we have practised for a higher place. This loss is really disappointing. We scored first, but we fell behind because we weren't able to score when we should've. It's all about us not scoring the second goal. We usually play league matches and do not have an opportunity to have penalty shootouts. This is why we needed to finish the match by that time. Each one of us needs to grow more and we will train to be a better team.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)　

The 37th Empress's Cup

Sat.7 November 2015 - Sun. 27 December 2015
More information