The final game of the AFC Women’s Club Championship took place at the Urawa Komaba Stadium in Japan, after initially being canceled by the AFC due to it being a pilot tournament for the upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League. However, following backlash, the match between Urawa Reds Ladies and Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels was rescheduled.
Urawa Reds Ladies had the chance to make history by becoming the first club in Asian football to hold both the men’s and women’s continental cup titles simultaneously. Their opponents, Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels, were the dominant force in the WK League and posed a tough challenge for the Japanese side.
Despite an early setback where the visitors took the lead, Urawa Reds showed their attacking prowess and turned the game around with two quick goals before the half-hour mark. Kiko Seike and Mei Shimada were the goal scorers for the hosts, who controlled the game from then on and secured a comfortable one-goal victory.
Urawa Reds will now celebrate their achievement in the AFC Women’s Club Championship and shift their focus to potentially winning the league title in the following week. Incheon Hyundai Steel still have a busy schedule ahead with two-thirds of their domestic season left, but both teams could meet again in the upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League.
The match between Urawa Reds Ladies and Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels served as a teaser for the upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League, which is set to begin its first season in 2024/25. Both Japan and South Korea have submitted entries for the tournament, and the strong showing from both teams in the AFC Women’s Club Championship indicates an exciting competition ahead.
The game at Urawa Komaba Stadium showcased the talent and competitiveness of women’s football in Asia, with Urawa Reds Ladies proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the region. The victory for Urawa Reds signifies their dominance in the Japanese league and could set the tone for their upcoming participation in the AFC Women’s Champions League.
Overall, the rescheduled final of the AFC Women’s Club Championship provided a thrilling encounter between two top-tier teams in Asian women’s football. Urawa Reds’ historic win sets the stage for an exciting future in women’s club competitions in the region, with both teams likely to face off again in the upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League.
