The final of the 36th Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's Soccer Championship Tournament between Urawa Red Ladies (Nadeshiko/Saitama) and Nippon TV Beleza (Nadeshiko/Tokyo) was held at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo on Thursday 1 January, 2015.

Urawa Red Ladies (Nadeshiko/Saitama)  0-1 (1st 0-1, 2nd 0-0)  Nippon TV Beleza (Nadeshiko/Tokyo)

It was snowing with temperatures around four degrees Celsius before the match. The final between Urawa and Beleza was a close and exciting match, which you could not take your eyes off until the last whistle.

Beleza picked up the pace at the beginning of the match and pressed Urawa, defending up front. After 19 minutes, SAKAGUCHI Mizuho, who received the ball in their area, passed it forward. Although TANAKA Mina, who reacted to the pass, was tackled by the opponent’s defender, MOMIKI Yuka overtook from behind and dribbled up to the penalty area, kicking with her left foot. Tanaka moved up to strike a superb opener with her right foot for Beleza off a rebound from Urawa’s goalkeeper, IKEDA Sakiko.

The forward SEIKE Kiko came off the bench in the 28th minute, and USUI Rie at left back from the second half. Urawa was trying to change the attacking rhythm by using aggressive substitutions. After 60 minutes, SHIBATA Hanae initiated drives, passing the ball, and Seike and GOTO Michi gradually had a chance to counter-attack. However, Beleza’s defenders, including IWASHIMIZU Asusa at centre back and MURAMATSU Tomoko, reacted well. They returned every cross and showed tenacious defence against the opponent, who tried to get through to their penalty area.

Beleza survived through their tough time and HASEGAWA Yui struck a goal in injury time of the second half, deciding the game. Beleza won their 11th championship overall and their first since the 31st tournament in 2009, without conceding a goal throughout this tournament.

Click here for the match detail (Japanese version only)

Comments

YOSHIDA Yasushi, Head Coach (Urawa Reds Ladies)
It was a tough match, in which the opponent took the initiative from the beginning. We couldn’t pick up our pace after conceding a goal. Although we tried to change the atmosphere by using Seike, who was originally supposed to play in the second half, it didn’t go as we expected. We couldn’t pass the ball around well even when we intercepted it because of Beleza’s swift change from attack and defence. In the second half, we initiated our attack from the left side and could aim behind space of the opponent’s defenders a little more. Having said that, I have to say the opponent was better in total than us.

KIRA Chinatsu (Urawa Reds Ladies)
We struggled from the beginning of the match. After conceding a goal, even though we stayed ambitious for goals, we couldn’t find the back of the net. I don’t think we were playing well enough near the ball or swift enough changing the attack and the defence. After changing the position to the side, I was trying to use Seike, who came off the bench and went up front, and also trying to face forward. I felt really frustrated that I couldn’t finish my shots. This year I’d like to work harder on the issues I found today, such as playing better near the ball.

TERATANI Mayumi, Head Coach (Nippon TV Beleza)
Before the match I encouraged the players; "show your enjoyment of playing football in a perfect opportunity on New Year’s Day." Usually we tend to be pressed in the beginning and gradually pick our pace against Urawa. However, today it was the opposite. We struck the opener and could continue playing in a better mental condition. Although we were under pressure from the opponent’s attack in the second half, our defenders stood up well. This victory is totally thanks to the players, who focused until the end. It’s rare that a match, excluding national teams’ ones, can be watched via land broadcasts on New Year’s Day. So I’m really pleased that everyone throughout the country enjoyed a good match.

TANAKA Mina (Nippon TV Beleza)
After being defended once, I believed Momiki would run for a rebound off the goalkeeper and try a shot. So I moved forward. It was lucky that the rebound came towards me. When I could predict where the ball from my teammates would touch on the ground, that would be the start of our attack. There are still many issues to be fixed. I’d like to work on them one by one. Last year I had a good time, but also some periods when I couldn’t play in games at all. I’d like to have fewer ups and downs and be able to contribute to the team constantly.

SAKAGUCHI Mizuho (Nippon TV Beleza)
As I was disappointed with Nadeshiko League result, I definitely wanted to win the Empress’s Cup. I have a mixed feeling of happiness and relief for we were talking in the team to finish the Cup by winning the game dedicating to Yayoi-chan (KOBAYASHI) who retires after the championship. We have a bunch of small players in our squad and realizing we cannot win just by focusing on our power. We had some tough times sticking to exchanging passes carefully but I believe we finally won the championship for believing in ourselves, kept on playing our style and that was why we won the championship. Terribly happy about this.

The 36th Empress's Cup

Sat.29 November - Thu. 1 January 2015
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