North Korea's Neoghyang women's football club defeated Japan's NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the Asian Champions League final in Suwon, South Korea, winning $1 million. The match marked a rare inter-Korean exchange amidst strained relations.
Naegohyang Women’s FC, North Korea's first sports team to visit South Korea in 8 years, defeated Suwon FC Women 2-1 in the Asian Women’s Champions League semi-final, advancing to face Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final.
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC arrived in South Korea for the first time in eight years to compete in the Asian Champions League semi-finals against Suwon FC Women. The visit, amid high security and media attention, is seen as a rare cross-border engagement but unlikely to ease broader political tensions.
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC arrived in South Korea for the Asian Champions League semifinals, marking a rare inter-Korean sports exchange. The team will play Suwon FC Women, with tickets selling out quickly. The visit highlights Seoul's efforts to promote understanding despite strained relations.
Machida Zelvia, a Japanese club that was playing non-league football as recently as 2013, are one win away from becoming Asian Champions League champions. The Tokyo suburban club, led by a former high-school coach and averaging 14,000 fans, face Saudi Arabia's defending champions Al-Ahli in Saturday's final in Jeddah. They have already beaten big-spending Al Ittihad in this competition.
A VAR controversy in the Asian Champions League semi-final saw referee Shaun Evans escorted off the pitch by police after ruling out Shabab Al-Ahli's last-gasp equaliser against Machida Zelvia. The goal was disallowed because the UAE side restarted play with a throw-in while Machida were still making a substitution. Coach Paulo Sousa stormed down the tunnel before full-time and goalkeeper Hamad Al-Meqbaali was sent off after the final whistle. Machida will face Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli in the final on 25 April.
