North Korean women crowned Asian club champions in South Kores

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SEOUL: North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC won the AFC Women's Champions League title on Saturday by defeating Japan's Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final in Suwon, South Korea.

Striker Kim Kyong-yong scored the match's only goal on a fast break in the 44th minute, securing the continent's top club prize of 1 million dollars. This victory also guarantees the Pyongyang-based club a spot in next year's inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup in Miami.

The final marked the conclusion of a highly significant cross-border trip, marking the first time a North Korean sports delegation has visited South Korea since December 2018.

Despite severe political gridlock between the two countries, Naegohyang received passionate support from a local joint cheering squad of South Koreans. The group beat traditional drums and wore matching shirts to cheer the players on, providing a unique moment of cross-border unity during the historic championship match.