The top 4 teams were determined for the 37th Empress’s Cup All Japan Women’s Football Tournament, and semi-final matches will take place on 23 December at Todoroki Athletics Stadium in Kanagawa prefecture. The two matches will be between Nippon TV Beleza vs. Albirex Niigata Ladies, and INAC Kobe vs. Vegalta Sendai Ladies. 

These teams are this season’s top 4 teams of Nadeshiko League hence both matches are expected to be very close ones.

Nippon TV Beleza, who is the defending 2014 champion and is aiming to retain the league title, will face Albirex Niigata Ladies, who is in 4th place. 

Nippon TV Beleza beat Iga Football Club Kunoichi 4-1 in the quarter final. Beleza’s goalkeeper YAMASHITA Ayaka, defender IWASHIMIZU Azusa, midfielder SAKAGUCHI Mizuho, and forward TANAKA Mina kept a consistent vertical line in the game. Indeed, this approach gave the team this season’s league record in both scoring and not conceding These 4 members are the squad players of the current Nadeshiko Japan, Japan Women’s National Team. 

Albirex Niigata Ladies has got through to the semi final stage since 2013. In the quarter final match, they beat JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies 2-0. The team’s star player midfielder KAMIONOBE Megumi who played for the FIFA Women’s World Cup as a squad player, contributed to these 2 goals.

Beleza has got 2 wins and 1 defeat against Niigata so far this season. Beleza’s match results in the regular series are 13 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat, and Niigata is the one who gave them the only defeat of the series. At the match between these two teams in the Exciting Series where only the top 6 teams compete, Beleza could get the opener and Niigata equalised in the second half, but then Beleza eventually won the match with Sakaguchi’s goal in the additional time. They faced each other in the quarter final of the Empress’s Cup in 2013 and Niigata beat Beleza 1-0. 

The key can be how Beleza will break down the systematic defense of Niigata. Beleza’s forward Tanaka says, "we have had close matches against Niigata several times before, so one goal makes difference. We want to get the first goal and carry on getting additional goals." Iwashimizu also expressed her passion, "It is a rare chance for us to get a consecutive title after last year. We will do our best for this purpose."

On the other hand, INAC Kobe who is aiming to win the title again since they last won it in 2013 will play against Vegalta Sendai Ladies who has gone through to semi final for 2 consecutive years. 

Sendai has kept good condition with speedy offense created mainly by midfielder KAWAMURA Yuri, midfielder NAKANO Manami, and forward ARIMACHI Saori. They have been in 3rd place in the regular season, and 2nd place in the Exciting Series. They beat Urawa Reds Ladies in the penalty shooting out 5-3, after 0-0 in extra time. In this penalty shoot out, the teams goalkeeper Brittany CAMERON, the former squad player of USA, did a stunning job by blocking the second shot.

INAC’s midfielder SAWA Homare lead the team in both offense and defense and beat AS Elfen Saitama 2-0 to move smoothly on to the semi final. Sawa has attracted even more attention since she announced her retirement after this season. 

So far, INAC has got 2 wins and 1 defeat against Vegalta Sendai in this season. In the match in the regular season, INAC beat Sendai 1-0 in May, 4-3 in September. However, Sendai beat INAC 4-2 in the Exciting Series in October. The match this time is expected to be a very close game. 

INAC’s defender KINGA Yukari says, "We always want to win, but this is extra special. We want Sawa to play as long as possible. I want to see her play. She needs to win the title. We want to be even more united to win this competition."

Sawa also says, "I am desperate to win the title. I will do my best to win; that’s how I have done."

On 23 December, the first match of the semi final will be INAC Kobe vs. Vegalta Sendai Ladies at 11 am. From 2pm, the second match Nippon TV Beleza vs. Albirex Niigata Ladies will take place. 

The Final will take place on 27 December at Todoroki Athletics Stadium, Kanagawa.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

The 37th Empress's Cup

Final : 12-27 (Sun.)　Todoroki Athletic Stadium/Kanagawa
Semi-Final : 12-23 (Wed.)　Todoroki Athletic Stadium/Kanagawa
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