North Korean Team Reaches Asian Women’s Champions League Final

North Korea’s first sports team to visit South Korea in eight years advanced to the Asian Women’s Champions League final after Naegohyang Women FC defeated Suwon FC Women 2-1.

Naegohyang rallied from a goal down to beat their South Korean rivals in a hard-fought semifinal played in a fair spirit without major incidents amid torrential rain in Suwon on Wednesday.

Suwon captain Ji So-yun missed a penalty with just over 10 minutes remaining.

At the final whistle, North Korean players embraced and wept as Suwon players slumped to the turf.

“We believed in our team’s ability,” said Naegohyang’s Choe Kum Ok, who scored her team’s equalizer in the second half.

“If all of us stay united, neither the semifinal or final will be a problem for us.”

The North Korean team will remain in South Korea for Saturday’s final, facing Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza at the same stadium.

“Every player’s role is important, but things didn’t go well for us in the first half,” said Choe.

“Once we got into the second half, we found our rhythm, and I think the game flowed much better for us.”

Interest in the rare North-South semifinal was intense, with all 7,087 general admission tickets selling out within hours of their release last week.

However, bad weather left half the seats empty at the roofless Suwon Sports Complex Stadium.

A contingent of spectators from civic groups backed by Seoul’s unification ministry attended the match to support both teams, though they remained mostly silent.

“I’ll cheer for both teams, although I’m rooting slightly more for the North since they travelled such a long way to get here,” Lee, a woman at the match told the AFP news agency.

Suwon fans banged drums and chanted in support of their team.

“Regardless of whether the opposing team is from North Korea or any other country, we really hope we win, make it to the final, and show just how strong our women’s football team is,” said 29-year-old Suwon fan Kweon Yun-young.

No official away supporters were present, as North Koreans are generally not permitted to enter South Korea.

The two teams previously met in the group stage, with Naegohyang winning 3-0.

Former Chelsea midfielder Ji said Suwon anticipated a tough physical battle and were prepared to match the intensity.

Play was fast and fair, with both teams creating early chances.

Naegohyang had a goal disallowed for offside in the fifth minute, and Suwon’s Japanese striker Haruhi Suzuki hit the post with a header midway through the first half.

Suzuki gave Suwon the lead in the 49th minute, capitalizing on a hesitation in the Naegohyang defense to score.

The North Koreans equalized six minutes later when Choe scored with a header from a free kick.

Prolific striker Kim Kyong Yong then put Naegohyang ahead in the 67th minute, heading in the ball from a scrappy attack.

Suwon was awarded a penalty after a VAR review, but Ji sent her spot kick wide as the goalkeeper dived the wrong way.

Tokyo defeated Australia’s Melbourne City 3-1 in the other semifinal earlier Wednesday.