1 week ago
The first North Korean squad to visit nan South successful 8 years crowned their travel by winning nan Asian Women’s Champions League, beating Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 successful Saturday’s final.
Naegohyang Women’s FC lifted nan trophy acknowledgment to skipper Kim Kyong Yong’s extremity conscionable earlier half-time successful nan South Korean metropolis of Suwon.
Women’s shot is 1 of North Korea’s strongest world sports, pinch their nationalist sides regularly competing astatine nan highest levels successful Asia and globally. Naegohyang’s triumph intends they will look successful adjacent year’s Fifa Women’s Champions Cup, which will characteristic teams from astir nan world.
Naegohyang, who were founded successful 2012 and whose sanction intends “My Hometown” successful Korean, hit Suwon FC Women 2-1 successful nan semi-finals astatine nan aforesaid Suwon stadium earlier this week successful a uncommon North-South match-up.
The North Koreans edged Tokyo successful a last that featured plentifulness of difficult tackles but was played successful a adjacent spirit. The players hugged each different astatine nan last whistle and coach Ri Yu Il sat connected nan chair and wept pinch joy.
Interest successful Naegohyang’s sojourn to nan South has been intense, and 7,087 wide admittance tickets for their semi-final against Suwon sold retired wrong hours. Tickets for nan last were still disposable soon earlier kick-off and swathes of quiet seats could beryllium seen successful nan stadium.
There were nary charismatic Naegohyang supporters because North Koreans are mostly not allowed into nan South, and nan 2 countries person technically remained astatine warfare since 1950. South Korean spectators, wearing sunglasses and caps nether nan sunny weather, hit accepted Korean drums while cheering for Naegohyang.
Around 3,000 spectators from civic groups backed by Seoul’s unification ministry were expected.
Cheong Wook-sik, head of South Korean NGO Peace Network, said earlier nan crippled that Naegohyang’s sojourn was “emotionally overwhelming for galore of us”.
“We person agelong been nan closest neighbours, yet besides nan astir dispute towards each other,” he said. “I dream these shot events tin thief alteration that, moreover if it whitethorn sound excessively idealistic.”
Choi Hyo-kwan, who is primitively from nan North, was attending nan crippled astatine nan property of 94.
“I heard they were playing Japan today, truthful I came retired to support them,” he said. “Above all, I conscionable dream everyone stays healthy, avoids injuries and goes each nan measurement to victory.”
Naegohyang and Tokyo had met earlier successful nan competition, pinch nan Japanese broadside winning 4-0 successful nan first information successful Myanmar.
The last was a overmuch person affair, pinch Tokyo having nan amended of nan first half until Naegohyang scored 1 infinitesimal earlier nan interval. Jong Kum collapsed down nan near aft a speedy counterattack and she squared nan shot for Kim to finish.
Tokyo pressed for an equaliser successful nan 2nd half but Naegohyang were comfortable to soak up nan unit and look for different chance to break forward.
North Korea rank 11th successful nan FIFA women’s world ranking, acold supra their men’s team, which is classed 118th.
Tokyo were looking to go Asian champions for nan 2nd time, having won nan Champions League’s forerunner title successful 2019.
