Gifu Asahi Blue Bees Hold Off Late Sony Rally to Secure 2–1 Victory

Gifu Asahi Blue Bees edged Sony Hockey Club Stellars 2–1 in a tightly contested Sakura League clash, holding firm despite a late surge from Sony.

Gifu took control early, opening the scoring in the 14th minute through Mai Toriyama, who finished a field goal to give her side a 1–0 lead. The match remained balanced through the second quarter, with both teams unable to break through defensively.

The decisive moment came in the third quarter, when Natsuki Imai doubled Gifu’s advantage in the 43rd minute, again from open play. That second goal proved crucial, as Sony gradually increased their attacking intensity heading into the final period.

Sony finally found a breakthrough in the 58th minute, converting a penalty corner through Haruka Murayama to cut the deficit to one. The late goal set up a tense finish, but Gifu’s defensive unit remained composed under pressure, closing out the match to secure all three points.

From a tactical standpoint, Gifu’s efficiency in front of goal made the difference. Despite limited scoring opportunities, they converted key chances in both halves, while maintaining structure defensively when Sony pushed forward late. Sony, on the other hand, showed resilience and improved offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter, but the slow start ultimately proved costly.

The result highlights Gifu’s ability to manage game flow and capitalize on critical moments, while Sony will look to build on their late momentum in future fixtures.