AFC Women's Champions League
The defending champions led from start to finish with Jong Kum’s strike ensuring they advanced to the quarter-finals with a perfect record of nine points, while Kobe also went through as the runners-up.
Hi Naegohyang head coach Ri Yu Il made one change from the side that beat BAM Khatoon FC of Islamic Republic of Iran 6-1 in their previous match, while Kobe rang in the changes with Tomomi Miyamoto making six.
Despite having already secured their knockout stage berths with a match to spare, both teams spared no effort from outset with Ri Yu Jong and Mitsuki Ota seeing their attempts thwarted.
Naegohyang stepped up the pressure in the 16th minute, with Kim Song Ok forcing Kobe goalkeeper Momoko Tanaka into a save before Jong Kum rattled the crossbar from the left side of the area.
Kobe responded three minutes later when Mitsuki Ota met Ai Kuwahara’s cross, only to see her headed attempt foiled, while Ri Myong Gum saw her effort snuffed out at the other end in the 21st minute.
The Japanese side should have taken the lead six minutes later but Ai Tsujisawa blazed her effort over the bar after being picked out by Fukina Mizuno.
Group A: Naegohyang Women’s FC (PRK) v Inac Kobe Leonessa (JPN)
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Naegohyang upped the tempo after the break and their pressing yielded them the opener in the 49th minute after Jong Kum pounced on a poor backpass from Fukina Mizuno, surging into the box and lifting the ball over Tanaka.
The DPR Korea side continued to press, with Tanaka denying Choe Yon A from a tight angle in the 52nd minute before Jong Kum headed wide from Kim Kyong Yong’s knockdown just after the hour mark.
Kobe responded in the 64th minute, with Yui Narumiya forcing Pak Ju Gyong into a save after being set up by Ai Tsujisawa as the Japanese side fell short at the end to find the equaliser.
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