North Korean side wins in South to reach final

Naegohyang defeated Suwon 2-1 in the semi-final to advance to the Asian Women’s Champions League final. Haruhi Suzuki scored for Suwon in the 49th minute, but Naegohyang responded with second-half goals from Choe Kum-ok and Kim Kyong-yong. A late penalty was awarded to Suwon after a video assistant referee review, but Ji So-yun missed the chance by putting the effort wide. The match featured emotional scenes at the final whistle, with several Naegohyang players crying with joy. The game was the first North Korean athletes’ visit to South Korea since 2018, and it drew civic group spectators despite travel restrictions.

"Naegohyang won 2-1 in their semi-final against South Korea's Suwon - with emotional scenes at the final whistle, as several of the victorious players sobbed with joy. The match marked the first time athletes from the north have visited the south since 2018. Second-half goals from Choe Kum-ok and Kim Kyong-yong won the game, following Haruhi Suzuki's 49th-minute opener for Suwon, and sent Naegohyang to the final in their first year in the competition."

"Suwon were awarded a penalty late in the semi-final after a video assistant referee review, but former Chelsea captain Ji So-yun put her effort wide. "We believed in our team's ability," said Naegohyang's Choe. "Every player's role is important, but things didn't go well for us in the first half. "Once we got into the second half, we found our rhythm and I think the game flowed much better for us.""

"Officially, there were no away supporters at Wednesday's game - which sold out within hours last week - because because of travel restrictions between the North and South. A large group of spectators from civic groups backed by Seoul's unification ministry were in the stadium to support both teams, although they were mostly silent. South Korea's Unification Minister Chund Dong-young said the game would set a "positive precedent" for inter-Korean relations."

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