Will INAC Kobe's fifth championship honour after two years be the icing on the cake for SAWA Homare, who hangs up her boots? Or will Albirex Niigata Ladies make it third time lucky, clinching the Japan's No.1 spot? The 37th Empress's Cup Final will take place on Sunday 27 December at Todoroki Stadium in Kanagawa.

It is expected to be an exciting game where Niigata with their best part of the collective football cope with INAC, who look to show the solidarity in Sawa's last match of her career. INAC’s strong strike force led by Nadeshiko Japan players will most likely to be a match-deciding factor, too.

Their matchup at the Empress's Cup will be the third one after the 33rd championship in 2011 and the 35th championship in 2013. In both past matchups, INAC grabbed wins and claimed the championships. They enjoyed a 3-0 win in 2011 and snatched a 4-3 win in 2013 on penalties after the match ended 2-2 including the extra-time.

During the regular season this year, the Kobe side's record against Niigata is two wins and one loss, edging 1-0 in the first leg and coming back for a 2-1 win in the second leg. On the third matchup at the Exciting Series in October, however, Niigata won 2-0 and it seems Niigata have gradually taken over the supremacy in the match-up.

In this tournament, INAC got a sense of unity back, led by Sawa. In the semi-final against Vegalta Sendai Ladies, who finished a good season in this year’s Nadeshiko League, they showed a tenacious battle despite losing the attacking rhythm in the first half and came back in the second half for a 2-0 win.

INAC coach MATSUDA Takeo says after the announcement of Sawa's retirement, "it was big the team got to unite. Everyone sticking together is one of the most important aspects, and it proves in the result where we've kept clean sheets."

"My teammates brought me to the final," says Sawa. "I will focus on this coming final and bring out my best. I haven't got a goal these days and that's stressing me out. I want to finish with a goal." Sawa added, "I keep imagining I lift the trophy with my teammates with smiles."

While INAC Kobe won through the semi-final in the 90 minutes, Niigata eliminated defending champions Nippon TV Beleza 3-2 in a penalty shootout after the extra-time which ended with the score of 1-1. It may be the key if Niigata's longer match duration would affect the final after a three-day interval.

Niigata coach NONAKA Futoshi says, "Sawa is retiring after this tournament, but to me it's also going to be my last match with Niigata. We are the same age, and the situation is also the same." For the big match that is going to be the compilation of his reign, he shows calm enthusiasm.

Nonaka contributed to Nadeshiko Japan's past feats as technical staff: the championship at the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011 and the silver medal at the London Olympics in the following year. He has established the playing style based on collective defence with logical approaches. The win in the final will be the first-ever title for Niigata in their history.

Goalkeeper FUKUMURA Kanae, who started to see action in the final match of the Nadeshiko League’s Regular Series, says energetically "the final is the last match for our coach, so we want to finish with a win. It's also the last one for Sawa, but we will come out for a win."

The final will kick off at 2:00 p.m. on 27 December.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Semi-Final   Nippon TV Beleza vs Albirex Niigata Ladies  Highlight

Semi-Final   Vegalta Sendai Ladies vs INAC Kobe  Highlight

The 37th Empress's Cup

Final  12-27 (Sun.)　Todoroki Athletic Stadium/Kanagawa
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