North Korea's Naegohyang FC Wins AFC Women's Champions League in South Korea
Quick Look
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC secured their first AFC Women's Champions League title by defeating Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final held in Suwon, South Korea.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC won the AFC Women's Champions League title in South Korea. They defeated Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final. This marks their first AFC title and a significant prize of US$1 million.
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korean side Naegohyang Women's FC captured the top Asian women's football title on South Korean soil Saturday.
Naegohyang defeated Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul.
Captain Kim Kyong-yong scored the match's only goal in the 44th minute and finished tied for the tournament lead with four goals.
With hundreds of South Korean supporters cheering them, Naegohyang captured their first AFC title and US$1 million in prize money.
Naegohyang edged out South Korea's Suwon FC Women 2-1 in Wednesday's semifinals, coming from behind to win the first match between women's football clubs of the two Koreas held south of the border.
Tokyo Verdy Beleza had defeated Naegohyang 4-0 in their earlier meeting during the group stage in November last year, but they got blanked this time with the AFC title on the line.
Kim's winning goal came off a fast break. After receiving a long pass, Jong Kum sped down the left wing and fed the ball to Kim in the center of the box. The forward made no mistake with her right-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Shu Ohba.
