Japanese club coach predicts tough final vs. N. Korean foe at top Asian women's football tournament

Sitting a win away from claiming the top Asian women's club football prize, Tokyo Verdy Beleza head coach Naoki Kusunose said Friday he expects a difficult showdown against his North Korean opponent.

Tokyo Verdy Beleza will take on Naegohyang Women's FC of North Korea in the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League at 2 p.m. Saturday at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul.

This is the second edition of the Women's Champions League, and both clubs are playing in the competition for the first time.

In Wednesday's semifinals, Tokyo Verdy Beleza knocked off Melbourne City FC 3-1, while Naegohyang defeated South Korea's Suwon FC Women 2-1. "For the entire team, the goal is to win the Asian title," Kusunose said at his prematch press conference Friday. "We're happy to have reached the final, and we will try our best and play our brand of football." Kusunose's team blanked Naegohyang 4-0 in their Group C meeting in November last year, but the coach predicted things will not be so easy this time. "Naegohyang have made some changes to their squad, a