After a scrappy start, Suwon were the first to register a shot on target in the 16th minute but Seo Ya-jin’s free-kick from the left was well read by Kim Kyong Rim with the Naegohyang custodian easily punching the ball away.

Naegohyang went close two minutes later, Kim Kyong Yong planted a firm header to Choe Yon A’s cross from the right which had Suwon goalkeeper Jeon Ha Neul beaten but not the crossbar.

The DPR Korea side then took control with Ri Myong Gum blasting a shot from distance wide before Choe Kum Uk’s toe poke from close range forced a great reflex save from Jeon.

Naegohyang should have taken the lead in the 43rd minute after Kim Hye Yong was sent racing through on goal, the forward skipped away from the advancing Jeon but could only place her chip wide of the post.

The second half saw both teams utilising the Football Video Support but neither were successful with Naegohyang’s penalty appeal for a foul on Hye Yong and Suwon’s red card check on Kyong Yong’s challenge on Jeon both waved away.

Naegohyang then broke the deadlock in the 68th minute after a half-cleared corner fell into the path of Pak Ye Gyong, who rifled home a powerful shot from outside the box through a sea of bodies into the bottom corner.

A quick counter attack five minutes later extended Naegohyang’s lead as Kum Uk burst through down the left, with her cutback squeezed in at full stretch by Ri Su Jong beyond the despairing Jeon.

Naegohyang then had Kyong Rim to thank for a splendid double save, first stopping Kwon Eun-som’s low strike before making herself big to deny Mileninha on the follow up in the 76th minute with Ri adding another in the sixth minute of stoppage time to seal the win.