Empress's Cup Showdown: Cerezo Osaka Women Host Loveledge Nagoya Women in Crucial Knockout Tie
A highly anticipated Empress's Cup JFA Japan Women's Football Championship match is set for December 7, 2025, as Cerezo Osaka Women host Loveledge Nagoya Women at Yodoko Sakura Stadium. Both teams enter the fixture in strong recent form, promising a closely contested knockout tie with the winner advancing in their quest for silverware.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
The Empress's Cup JFA Japan Women's Football Championship is a prestigious annual event in Japanese women's football, serving as the female counterpart to the men's Emperor's Cup. It operates on a knockout basis, making every match critically important. This fixture falls into a crucial stage of the tournament. For Cerezo Osaka Women, a team from the top-tier WE League, the objective will be to defend their home turf and continue their march towards the trophy. Conversely, for Loveledge Nagoya Women, who compete in the Nadeshiko League Division 1, this presents a prime opportunity to challenge a higher-division opponent. They will be eager to play the role of 'giant-killers,' proving their capabilities and advancing further in the cup. As it's a knockout tie, both teams must perform flawlessly, as any defeat will spell the end of their Empress's Cup journey this season.
Recent Form
Cerezo Osaka Women enter this match in impressive form, having secured four wins and one loss in their last five official matches. Their recent victories include a 2-1 win over Albirex Niigata Women in the WE League Cup, a 1-0 extra-time triumph against Nojima Stella Women in the Empress's Cup, and WE League wins of 3-1 against Orca Kamogawa Women and 1-0 over AS Elfen Saitama Women. Their sole defeat in this period was a 1-2 loss to NTV Beleza Women.
Loveledge Nagoya Women boast an equally strong recent record, also achieving four wins and one loss in their last five outings. Their Empress's Cup journey saw them defeat Nagano Parceiro Women 2-0 and SEISA OSA Rheia Shonan Women 2-0. In the Nadeshiko League, they secured 3-1 and 1-0 victories against Shizuoka SSU Bonita Women and Orca Kamogawa FC Women, respectively. Their single loss in this run was a 1-2 defeat to Okayama Yunogo Belle Women. The similar strong form of both teams sets the stage for a high-quality encounter.
Key Players & Injury News
Cerezo Osaka Women's squad features talented players such as forwards Miyu Yakata and Zahra Muzdalifah, and midfielder Serika Takawa, who are expected to provide attacking impetus. There are currently no major new injury concerns reported for either Cerezo Osaka Women or Loveledge Nagoya Women. In cup competitions, teams typically field their strongest possible lineups, making individual player form and on-the-day performance crucial factors in determining the match's outcome.