On 16 September, the 94th Emperor’s Cup quarterfinals draw was held to determine the match-ups.

Tuesday’s draw held at the JFA house in Tokyo sorted the eight qualified teams, five from Division 1 (J1) and three from Division 2 (J2) of the J.League, into four matches. Gamba Osaka, the champions of two consecutive tournaments in the past, the 88th (2008) and the 89th (2009), will face Omiya Ardija from J1. Nagoya Grampus, who aim at the first trophy since their last title at the 79th (1999), will meet Shimizu S-pulse. Shimizu, the winner of the 81st in 2001, is led by head coach Nishino Akira, who has won the championship twice with Gamba Osaka as their head coach.

At the other side of the tournament table, J1’s Cerezo Osaka, clinching the first quarterfinals since the 92nd (2012), will play J2’s Jef United Chiba. J2’s Montedio Yamagata will have a match against Giravanz Kitakyushu, another J2 club.
Yamagata, who reached the first Round 8 since the 90th (2010), defeated J1’s Sagan Tosu at the Round 16. Kitakyushu eliminated J1’s Yokohama F. Marinos at the third round and J1’s Ventfolet Kofu at the Round 16 that gave them the first ever quarterfinal contest in their club history. Chiba beat Kashiwa Reysol at the third round and the same J2 challenger V-Varen Nagasaki at the Round 16.

The fixture between Nagoya and Shimizu will take place on Saturday 11 or Sunday 12 October. Other fixtures will be held on Wednesday 15 October. Details including kick-off times will be announced later. The venues to be used are Expo'70 Commemorative Stadium, Nagoya Mizuho Athletics Stadium, Kincho Stadium and NDSoft Stadium Yamagata.

“We don’t know what is going to happen at the side that has four J1 clubs. The other side, Cerezo Osaka is the only J1 club. I want to look close to it if they can get through,” said the JFA President Daini Kuniya, who took the role of a drawer along with Suruga Bank CEO Okano Mitsuyoshi, former Japan internationals Nanami Hiroshi and Tanaka Makoto, both of who used to play at Jubilo Iwata.

After going through the draw result, Nanami pointed out “Gamba Osaka have the J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup and other teams have some players who may be called up for the national team. We are going to see all-out battles.” Tanaka commented “I have some expectation that there will be a giant killing, a J2 team beating a J1 team.” Okano said “I hope all the J1 and J2 teams try their best.” He also revealed candidates of SURUGA I DREAM AWARD, recognising the goal that best symbolises the knockout system of the Emperor’s Cup – Kwansei Gakuin University (Hyogo), Sony Sendai FC (Miyagi) and Nara Club (Nara). Kwansei Gakuin University at the first round, Sony Sendai at the second round and Nara Club at the first round and the second round beat Vissel Kobe (J1), Kashima Antlers (J1), Fukushima United FC (J3) and Vegalta Sendai (J1) respectively.

The Semi-finals are scheduled on 26 November and the final is scheduled on Saturday 13 December. Yokohama Nissan Stadium will be used as the venue of the final.

Comments

DAINI Kuniya, Japan Football Association President
As the Emperor’s Cup is played by the knockout system, it has a lot of upsets. Now we have best eight teams and the tournament is likely to get even more heated. It has seen some tough matches this year. J2 teams made a breakthrough to advance to the round 16. And three teams reached the quarterfinals from J2. I feel the whole J. League environment has been revitalized by the 2014 FIFA World Cup and new Japan National Team.

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