(LEAD) football-competition
(LEAD) Tokyo Verdy Beleza beat Melbourne City to reach AFC Women's Champions League final
(ATTN: ADDS comments in final 5 paras, photo)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SUWON, South Korea, May 20 (Yonhap) -- Tokyo Verdy Beleza struck twice early and added a late insurance marker to defeat Melbourne City FC 3-1 to reach the final of the top Asian women's football tournament.
Yuzuho Shiokoshi grabbed a brace and Miharu Shinjo scored the other goal for Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul, on this rainy Wednesday. Aideen Keane was the lone scorer for Melbourne City FC.
Yuzuho Shiokoshi of Tokyo Verdy Beleza (R) celebrates with teammate Shino Matsuda after scoring a goal against Melbourne City FC during the clubs' semifinal match at the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 20, 2026, in this Associated Press photo. (Yonhap)
In the championship final set for 2 p.m. Saturday in Suwon, the Japanese club will face the winner of the other semifinal match scheduled for Wednesday evening between Suwon FC Women of South Korea and Naegohyang Women's FC of North Korea.
This is the second edition of the AFC Women's Champions League. The champions will take home US$1 million in prize money and the runners-up will bag $500,000.
Shiokoshi scored off her right foot just four minutes in, and Shinjo doubled the Japanese team's lead six minutes later.
Keane halved the deficit for Melbourne City FC in the 37th minute following a corner. But then Shiokoshi scored the dagger in the 78th minute off a rebound from Shinjo's initial shot.
Tokyo Verdy Beleza outshot Melbourne City FC 7-2.
Melbourne City FC were the runners-up last year. Tokyo Verdy Beleza are playing in their first AFC Women's Champions League.
Miharu Shinjo of Tokyo Verdy Beleza (R) and Rebekah Stott of Melbourne City FC (C) battle for the ball during the clubs' semifinal match at the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 20, 2026, in this Associated Press photo. (Yonhap)
Tokyo Verdy Beleza faced both Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang during the group stage of this year's competition. On Nov. 9 last year, Tokyo blanked Naegohyang 4-0 thanks to two goals by Moka Hiwatari and a goal each by Shiokoshi and Shinjo. Six days later, Tokyo and Suwon played to a goalless draw, with Tokyo enjoying a 67-33 advantage in ball possession and an 8-7 edge in shot attempts.
Tokyo head coach Naoki Kusunose said he was very much aware of the quality of the two other semifinalists and it will be a difficult final for his side regardless of the opponent.
"Suwon FC Women have Japanese players (Ayaka Nishikawa and Rena Okutsu) and South Korean international Ji So-yun. They're a strong team," Kusunose said. "We also believe Naegohyang will be much better now than in the group stage."
Shiokoshi agreed with her coach's assessment.
"Even though we've played both teams before, I don't think there will be any advantage to playing one team over the other," the midfielder said. "I think the final will be much different than the matches in the group stage. No matter who we face, it will be a tough match."
Tokyo Verdy Beleza head coach Naoki Kusunose reacts to a play during the semifinal match against Melbourne City FC at the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 20, 2026, in this EPA photo. (Yonhap)
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