The two semi-finals of the 36th Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's Soccer Championship Tournament will be held at the Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka on Sunday 28 December and will decide the finalists, who will play the game on Thursday 1 January next year.

The first semi-final will be between NIPPON TV Beleza (Nadeshiko/Tokyo) and Vegalta Sendai Ladies (Nadeshiko/Miyagi). Beleza, who are aiming to advance to the final for the first time since the 31st Tournament in 2009, scored 12 goals and kept clean sheets in two games so far and got to the semi-final with their perfect attack and defence. In terms of the attack, Tanaka Mina, who has scored consecutive goals, and Hasegawa Yui have stood out. In defence, the young players, including Muramatsu Tomoko, have played an active role. As Sakaguchi Mizuho, an experienced player, noted: ’The Empress's Cup is a perfect opportunity to pay our debt for ending up second in the League’, they are all very keen on winning the championship.
On the other hand, Sendai won their second match 5-0 against F.C. Kibi International University Charme (Nadeshiko/Okayama). In the quarterfinal against Okayama Yunogo Belle (Nadeshiko/Okayama), Hamada Haruka scored a hat trick in two successive games and Sendai won the game with six goals to advance to the semi-final.
Both semi-finalists have met twice in the Nadeshiko League regular series this year and Beleza won twice. (3rd Sec: 2-0. 11th Sec: 1-0) We must keep our eyes on the result; whether Beleza will win again or Sendai will finally get a victory for the first time at the third try.

The second semi-final between Urawa Red Ladies (Nadeshiko/Saitama) and JEF United Chiba Ladies (Nadeshiko/Chiba) cannot be missed. Urawa, who won the Nadeshiko League with the least goal losses, have kept a clean sheet this tournament. The defender Saito Akane struck a goal in their third game against Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara (Kanto1/Kanagawa) and the defensive midfielder Kishikawa Natsuki scored in the quarterfinal against Iga Football Club Kunoichi (Nadeshiko/Mie), proving that they could score from anywhere.
Chiba, who are aiming to get to the final, after failing to do so last year, have kept a clean sheet just like Urawa. Chiba won the game 1-0 against INAC Kobe Leonessa (Nadeshiko/Hyogo), who had won their fourth championship in a row, and became the semi-finalist. The attacker Ikadai Risa is in good condition, in addition to Sugasawa Yuika and Yamane Erina, who can both attack and defend. Ikadai assisted four goals in their third game against Fujieda Junshin High School (Tokai1/Shizuoka) and struck a winning goal in the match against Kobe.

This tournament started in November and only three matches remain. Who will get a ticket to play in the final on the New Year’s Day?

The 36th Empress's Cup

Sat.29 November - Thu. 1 January 2015
More Information