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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Alex Bishop in Wuhan

Why Wuhan’s Asian WCL triumph is much more than a moment of glitter

Wuhan Jiangda celebrate
Wuhan Jiangda celebrate after the presentation. Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

Continental club competitions present opportunities like no other. A precious yet highly elusive chance to test one’s mettle against unknown opposition amid unfamiliar surroundings. For players, coaches and their respective clubs alike, this is where many believe true growth occurs.

And it wasn’t just Lisbon that played host to these virtues this past weekend as a new dawn for women’s football arose in Asia. The final of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League took place in China with host club, Wuhan Jiangda, edging out Melbourne City after a nerve-racking penalty shootout following a tight, and often physical, 120 minutes of playing time with the score tied at 1-1.

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