The semi-finals of the Empress's Cup and the All-Japan Women's Championship, which decide the best women's soccer soccer team in Japan, were held, and WE League's INAC Kobe Leonessa and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds advanced to the finals in both cases.
Four teams from the WE League advanced to the top four of the Empress's Cup, and two semi-final games were held on the 20th in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture.
In the first match, Leonessa faced Chifure AS Elfen Saitama.
In the 15th minute of the second half of extra time, with Leonessa tied 2-2, a cross ball kicked by Hikaru Kitagawa hit the net, winning 3-2 and advancing to the finals for the second consecutive tournament.
In the second game, the Reds faced Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina, and right after the start of the first half of extra time, the score was 2-2, when Regina's player Yoshino Nakajima reacted to a loose ball and swung with his right foot to score the winning goal. I did.
On the other hand, the Reds tied the score seven minutes into the second half of extra time when Seike Takako headed in a cross from the right side, and the game went to penalty kicks.
In the penalty kick match, the Reds, who went first, had all of their third players score goals, and goalkeeper Sakiko Ikeda saved the shot of Regina's third player.
Then, Ikeda took the kick as the fourth player and calmly made the score, and Ikeda again stopped the opponent's shot, allowing the Reds to win the penalty kick battle 4-2 and advance to the finals.
The final will be held in Osaka on the 27th of this month, with Leonessa, aiming for their seventh championship in seven tournaments, facing off against Reds, aiming for their second championship in two tournaments.