The 2 semi final matches of the 23rd All Japan High School Women’s Football Championship were held in Noevir Stadium Kobe in Kobe city on 7 January. 

1st match of semi final

Hinomoto Gakuen Senior High School (Kansai 1/Hyogo) 3-0（1st 0-0、2nd 3-0）　Murata Girls' High School（Kanto1／Tokyo）

At the beginning of the 1st half Hinomoto Gakuen Senior High School (Kansai 1/Hyogo), last year’s champion, took control of the game but could not score. On 42 minutes, KUNITAKE Aimi dribbled to the centre circle and passed it to the forwards, the forward tried to strike a shot after receiving the ball in front of the goal, but the opponent’s goalkeeper ARIKURA Yuika saved it. Murata Girls' High School（Kanto1／Tokyo）, who desperately wants to get to the final for the first time, defended their goal in the 1st half with persistent defense just as they did in their the previous quarter final match.

While Hinomoto Gakuen kept attacking from the wings in the 2nd half, Murata Girls' High School defended and counter attacked by moving the ball behind the opponent’s final line. On 67 minutes, SAKUMA Kotori struck a free shot, maximising a small chance but could not score. The match moved finally on 74 minutes, Hinomoto Gakuen’s WATANABE Natsuki moved the ball across to the other wing and TADA Ayaka kept the ball in just near the sideline. She took the ball to the front of the goal and eventually IKEJIRI Mayu struck the opener with her right foot. “Once we score, we can have a good mood” IKEJIRI expresses about her team and indeed they got the 2nd goal 2 minutes after their first goal by TADA. On 80 minutes, INADA Kana struck a strong shot and got an additional goal which ensured their victory. Hinomoto Gakuen beat Murata Girls' High School 3-0 and reached the final.

Match Detail(Japanese version only)

2nd match of semi final

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School（Tohoku1／Miyagi）　1-1（1st 0-0、2nd 1-1、PK5-4）　Fujieda Junshin High School（Tokai1／Shizuoka）

Tokiwagi Gakuen High School（Tohoku1／Miyagi）head to the match wanting to get revenge for their defeat when Fujieda Junshin High School（Tokai1／Shizuoka）beat them in the semi final of this Championship last year. At that time, Tokiwagi Gakuen dominated the match most of the time but Fujieda Junshin beat them in the penalty shootout after equalising in additional time.

Fujieda Junshin took the lead of the game at the beginning, but Tokiwagi Gakuen defended their goal contributed mainly by MATSUKUBO Akari. Gradually Tokiwagi Gakuen got more into the game. On 36 minutes SUGIHARA Haruna made a shot from SASAKI Yukina’s pass and later on 40 minutes, KAWASAKI Saya made another scoring chance. Both shots didn’t hit the back of the net but they threatened Fujieda Junshin’s goal.

In the 2nd half, Fujieda Junshin started to take stronger control of the game. On 78 minutes, KONO Fuuka struck the opener and made the match 1-0. However, Tokiwagi Gakuen didn’t give up and started counter attack. “Last year, we lost the match after Fujieda Junshin equalised. This time we believed that we could eventually equalise”, said NISHIKAWA Ayaka of Tokiwagi Gakuen. On 91 minutes, Tokiwagi Gakuen’s SUGIHARA broke through the defense and move the ball to the front of the goal, then SHIRAKI Akari screwed it into the goal to make the score 1-1. In the penalty shootout, both teams equally got 5 goals but Tokiwagi Gakuen’s goalkeeper ONO Asuka blocked Fujieda Junshin’s 6th shot. Eventually Tokiwagi Gakuen achieved to win the semi final for the first time after 2 years.

Match Detail(Japanese version only)

Comments

TADA Ayaka（Hinomoto Gakuen Senior High School）
In the 1st half, we couldn’t play as we wanted to and it was difficult, but in the 2nd half we switched our mind to be more positive telling ourselves “We will definitely score”. At the beginning we were nervous but we could settle and improve our level of play in the 2nd half. I used to play for a lower group of the team and I have just come up to the higher group for this Championship. I know the feeling of the players in the lower group who can’t play in important matches, so I want to play as best I could for them.

UCHIYAMA Nozomi（Murata Girls' High School）
It was our weakness that we couldn’t score even though we had chances. It is such a shame but it was good to finish in 3rd place. I think we have come to this level not only because of the players but also by all people who have supported us. This is not the end of my football life. I will ensure we will get revenge for this defeat in the future.

ONO Asuka（Tokiwagi Gakuen High School）
Today we had a difficult match where we were dominated by the opponents, but we never gave up and had a strong belief in ourselves to win. Last year, I couldn’t be selected as a squad member and I just watched my teammates beaten on TV. It was a bitter experience for me. This was my first experience to play in this Championship and I was nervous at first, but other senior teammates kindly encouraged me and that made me feel stronger.

TATARA Kazuyuki Head Coach（Fujieda Junshin High School）
I never expected this would happen at last. Last year we defeated them in exactly the same situation so we should have ended the match sooner but we could not. Usually it doesn’t happen but we have played against Tokiwagi Gakuen for 3 consecutive years in this Championship. I can’t stop feeling that there is some kind of fate especially with Tokiwagi Gakuen. I know that the players are now feeling very frustrated but we should embrace this. They are frustrated because they did their best so now I want them to shift that frustration to be a strong motivational force for the future.

All Japan High School Women's Football Tournament

Sat. 3 January -  Sun. 11 January 2015
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