KAWASAKI ¨C Homare Sawa has always been regarded as a winner throughout her long career. And she was still thought of in that way when she left the pitch for the final time.
Sawa, the 2011 FIFA Women¡¯s World Player of the Year, scored the game-winning goal and wrapped up a career full of accolades with a 1-0 win over Albirex Niigata Ladies in the All-Japan Women¡¯s Championship final at Todoroki Stadium on Sunday.
Kobe, one of the powerhouse clubs in Japanese women¡¯s soccer this century, captured its first Empress¡¯ Cup in two years and fifth in the last six years in front of a record crowd of 20,379. Albirex, who finished runnerup in the annual tournament in 2011 and 2013, was saddled with another second-place finish.
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