FC Machida Zelvia and Vissel Kobe emerged victorious from the Emperor's Cup JFA 105th Japan Football Championship Semi-finals on Sunday, courtesy of matching 2-0 wins over fellow MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE sides FC TOKYO and Sanfrecce Hiroshima, respectively.
The clash between FC Machida and FC TOKYO at Japan National Stadium was an incredibly tight affair, and it took two goals in extra-time to decide the contest in FC Machida’s favour.
Neither side was able to find a way through their opponent’s well-organised defence in the opening 90 minutes, and the stalemate continued during a similarly cagey first period of extra-time.
Kotaro Hayashi finally broke the deadlock two minutes before the interval though, just about beating Alexander Scholz to the ball after Oh Se Hun had headed in behind and prodding it beyond FC TOKYO goalkeeper Go Hatano with his right foot to put FC Machida ahead.
Oh then put the result beyond doubt four minutes after the restart, when he rounded off a wonderful attack with a neat finish.
The move started by the left-hand corner flag, where Na Sangho did incredibly well to keep possession and backheel it past two FC TOKYO defenders to find Yuki Soma. Soma then carved his way into the penalty area before cutting back to Oh, who made no mistake from just inside the six-yard box.
Meanwhile, Kobe were able to make their way past a spirited Hiroshima inside 90 minutes at Panasonic Stadium Suita, thanks to a goal in each half from Katsuya Nagato and Daiju Sasaki.
Nagato got Kobe up and running with a terrific strike in the 24th minute, firing in with his left foot from the edge of the area after a corner had been cleared into his path.
Kobe then doubled their lead after some penalty drama midway through the second period.
First up, a spot-kick was awarded to Kobe after a VAR review for a foul by Hiroshima goalkeeper Keisuke Osako on Kobe forward Yoshinori Muto.
Yuya Osako stepped up and saw his attempt saved by his namesake in Hiroshima’s goal, but a check showed the keeper had moved off his line before the strike and so a retake was ordered.
This time Sasaki took over kicking duties from Osako, and he kept calm to convert from 12 yards in the 69th minute and make sure of his side’s progression.
FC Machida and Kobe will now meet in the final at Japan National Stadium on Saturday 22nd November, where FC Machida will be targeting a first ever triumph in the competition and Kobe will be aiming to defend the title they won last year.
