Supporters cheer for South Korea's Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang FC of North Korea at Suwon Sports Complex, south of Seoul, during the AFC Women’s Champions League semifinal match, Wednesday. Yonhap

SUWON, Gyeonggi Province — Rain lashed down on Suwon Sports Complex, south of Seoul, Wednesday evening, but it did little to dampen the intensity on the pitch or the emotions in the stands as Suwon FC Women faced North Korea’s Naegohyang FC in the Asian Football Federation Women’s Champions League (AWCL) semifinal.

The two professional sides battled through sheets of rain and swirling wind for a place in Saturday’s final, chasing what would be a first AWCL title for either club and a landmark trophy for women’s football in both Koreas.

The Korea Football Association brought both the semifinals and final of the continental tournament to Suwon, allowing Suwon FC Women to stage their AWCL debut on home turf after winning the 2024 WK League title.

The host pushed to deliver a historic first continental crown for the Korean women’s professional league, but ultimately fell 2-1 to Naegohyang. The North Korean side advanced to face Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza in Saturday’s final at 2 p.m. on the same pitch, with about $1 million in prize money at stake.

In the stands, however, the story was as unusual as the scoreline.

Of the 5,763 spectators in attendance, roughly 1,000 were members of Suwon supporters’ group Fortress, who turned up in their customary navy and wine-colored shirts and scarves, chanting behind one goal as they would for any league match.

On an adjoining side of the stadium, an estimated 3,000 cheered for both Koreas, waving small flags bearing both Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang FC and striking long inflatable batons together.

Many in the joint section identified themselves as divided families or their descendants.

“There are a lot of second- and third-generation separated family members who came because they think, ‘The players on the North Korean team could be my family members,’” said Kim Duk-hyung, 64, a second-generation divided family member living in Seoul.

Source: Korea Times News