▲ Naegohyang Women's FC players celebrate after beating Tokyo Verdy Beleza to win the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League title at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 23, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ Kim Kyong-yong of Naegohyang Women's FC (L) is mobbed by teammates after scoring against Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 23, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ Kim Kyong-yong of Naegohyang Women's FC scores against Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 23, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ Fans hold up signs in support of Naegohyang Women's FC during the final of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League against Tokyo Verdy Beleza at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 23, 2026. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) NK football team-victory

(LEAD) N. Korean club Naegohyang crowned Asian women's football champions

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout, photo)

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. Kim was also named the MVP of the tournament.

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. It was Naegohyang's first shot on goal in this match.

"We all trained so hard in tough conditions, and that's why we were able to get that decisive goal today," Kim said in her televised interview afterward. "It was a great moment because we defeated a strong team from Japan. I am so happy to bring joy to our people, and I want to share this with them."

Naegohyang withstood some early pressure from their opponents, and dodged a bullet in the 16th minute when goalkeeper Pak Ju-gyong stopped Yuzuho Shiokoshi's shot from outside the box and the rebound was cleared out of harm's way.

After conceding the first goal, Tokyo Verdy Beleza maintained their advantage in ball possession, but Naegohyang locked things down in their own end while creating some chances of their own from counterattacks.

With the time winding down, the Japanese club grew a little sloppy in the offensive zone and failed to translate their 65-35 edge in possession into goals.

Naegohyang outshot Tokyo Verdy Beleza 6-2.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]