The 36th Empress’s Cup All-Japan Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament will have its third round matches on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December.
From this round, top-tier teams in this year’s Nadeshiko League start showing match actions for the spots in the quarter-finals.

Four-time defending champions, INAC Kobe Leonessa (Nadeshiko / Hyogo) play against AS Harima Albion (Kansai 3 / Hyogo). Although INAC Kobe have won the cup every year since 2010, the club struggled early so far in this season including no title and sixth-place finish in the Exciting Series (upper division). They look to start off well in the last tournament of this year to defend the title once again. On the other hand, AS Harima Albion has shown great effort in their first appearance of this tournament. In the second round match against Urawa Reds Ladies Youth (Kanto 4 / Saitama), they survived through young Reds’ attacks and squeezed out a win in the penalty shootouts. How their tenaciousness can hold up against Nadeshiko League’s powerhouse is the key for Harima.

This year’s Nadeshiko League champions Urawa Reds Ladies (Nadeshiko / Saitama) match up against Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara (Kanto 1 / Kanagawa). Urawa L have appeared in the Empress’s Cup final twice before, but won no title yet. They certainly look to win this first match and start their journey to their second big title this year. Nojima, meanwhile, have kept their offence in good form as Minamino Arisa scored her hat-trick in the second round match against Seiwa Gakuen (Tohoku 3 / Miyagi). As captain Oyama Saki says “it’s not going to be easy against Urawa, but we will play with everything we have,” they understand what they are required to defeat the Nadeshiko League champions.

The match between Vegalta Sendai Ladies (Nadehiko / Miyagi) and Ange Violet Hiroshima (Chugoku 1 / Hiroshima) is expected to be a close contest. Vegalta have surely learned how to close matches recently by winning five in the six Exciting Series (Lower Division) matches. Ange Vilolet also have good momentum going after beating FC Kibi International University Charme (Nadeshiko / Okayama) in the previous round. Youngsters including Katurama Fumina, age 20, and Saihara Mizuki, 17, attempt to lead the club to grab another win against Nadeshiko League teams.

Nippon TV Beleza (Nadeshiko / Tokyo) take on Ehime FC Ladies (Shikoku 1 / Ehime). They have won six Empress’s Cups in this century, but not one after 2009. Getting back to the top again will certainly blow away the disappointment they experienced in the league this year, where they came up short and finished second. Ehime have raised their confidence level as they won against Hinomoto Gakuen High School (Kansai 5 / Hyogo) and edged JFA Academy Fukushima (Tohoku 2 / Fukushima) in extra time of the following match. After two wins, they must be warmed up enough to upset a superior team.

Venue Information

Miki Sogo Bousai Park (Hyogo)
Hyogo Football Association　http://www.hyogo-fa.gr.jp/
* Shuttle bus service is available between Midorigaoka Station and the stadium on the match day for free of charge.

Fujieda Sports Complex Park Football Stadium
Shizuoka Football Association　http://www.shizuoka-fa.com/contents/index.html

The 36th Empress's Cup

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