May 26 – Chinese women’s football is continuing its return to the top of Asian football with Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC being the latest example of the country’s improved competitiveness with their 5-4 women’s Champions League final penalty win over Australia’s Melbourne City.
With semi-finals and finals played in a centralised format in China, Wuhan went into the match with home pitch advantage, but it was Melbourne City who took the lead in a tight match in the 76th minute.
Leticia McKenna delivered a free kick from the right that fell perfectly for Shelby McMahon who powerfully headed home.
Melbourne looked to have the match wrapped as they fended off waves of Wuhan attacks into added time and having a goal themselves ruled out.
But it wasn’t enough to stop the Chinese who won a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time after Mariana Speckmaier handled the ball in the box. Wang Shuang converted to send the match into extra time.
Both sides fashioned chances in the next 30-minutes but there were no more goals.
Goalkeeper Chen Chen was Wuhan’s hero saving penalties from Rebekah Stott and Bryleeh Henry to secure the inaugural Women’s Asian Champions League title for the home side.
Wuhan will now represent the AFC at the maiden FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, facing OFC title-holders Auckland United FC in the Preliminary Stage Round 1, with the winners set to meet the CAF champions in Round 2.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa commented: “The advancement of women’s football has been a significant priority for the AFC in recent years, and the successful conclusion of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ season signifies a monumental leap forward in our commitment to raise the bar of the women’s game for all our Member Associations…
“We must also praise the Chinese Football Association for hosting both the Group Stage and decisive rounds in a year that has witnessed the CFA organise no less than three centralised AFC tournaments in the first half of 2025.”
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