Melbourne City Women 1–3 NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza
AFC Women’s Champions League – Group Stage | 20 May 2026

NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza produced a commanding performance to defeat Melbourne City Women 3–1 on Wednesday afternoon in the AFC Women’s Champions League, delivering a powerful statement of intent in the group phase. The Japanese side showcased the technical precision and tactical discipline that have made them a perennial force in Asian women’s club football, overwhelming the Australian champions with a dominant second-half spell.

Match Overview

Played at a neutral venue in the AFC’s centralised group format, the match was a crucial early test for both teams. Melbourne City entered the contest high on confidence after their domestic success, but NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza’s experience in continental competition proved decisive. The final scoreline of 3–1 flattered the hosts slightly, as the Japanese side controlled large stretches of the game and created clear opportunities throughout.

Key Moments

• 9th minute – Melbourne City stunned the favourites early. A quick counter-attack caught the Beleza defence out of position, and a well-placed finish from attacker Hannah Wilkinson gave the Australian side a 1–0 lead.
• 34th minute – Beleza equalised through a clever set-piece routine. Midfielder Hikaru Naomoto curled a free kick into the box, where defender Risa Shimizu rose highest to head home.
• 58th minute – The turning point. A moment of individual brilliance from Mina Tanaka, who collected the ball on the left, cut inside, and fired a low shot into the far corner to make it 2–1.
• 72nd minute – Beleza sealed the win with a clinical third. A sweeping team move ended with substitute Yuki Ogimi tapping in from close range after a deflected cross.

Tactical Story

Melbourne City set up in a compact 4-4-2, aiming to absorb pressure and hit on the break. Their early goal rewarded that approach, but as the half wore on, NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza’s superior ball retention and movement began to take hold. The Japanese side shifted from a 4-3-3 to a more fluid 3-4-3 in possession, overloading the wide areas and stretching City’s defensive lines.

Beleza’s high press, led by Tanaka and Naomoto, forced errors from the Melbourne City backline, and once they took the lead, they controlled the tempo expertly. City’s midfield struggled to gain a foothold after the interval, with Beleza’s passing triangles snuffing out any counter-attacking threat.

Standout Performers

• Mina Tanaka (NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza) – The Japan international was a constant menace, scoring a spectacular winner and creating two other clear chances. Her movement between the lines proved impossible for City to handle.
• Risa Shimizu (NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza) – Solid defensively and dangerous from set pieces, she scored the equaliser and completed 89% of her passes in the attacking third.
• Hannah Wilkinson (Melbourne City Women) – The New Zealand striker worked tirelessly and took her goal well, but she lacked service after the half-hour mark.

Impact on the AFC Women’s Champions League Standings

This result puts NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza top of their group with maximum points from two matches, strengthening their bid for a spot in the knockout stages. Melbourne City now face an uphill battle after dropping to third place, with only two group games left to climb into the qualification places. The Australian side will need to rediscover their defensive solidity when they face the other group contenders in their next fixture.

Conclusion

NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza’s 3–1 victory was fully deserved and underlined why they are considered one of the strongest teams in the AFC Women’s Champions League. Melbourne City will rue their failure to build on an early lead, but the quality of the Japanese side’s performance left little room for doubt. For neutral fans, the match provided an absorbing spectacle of tactical nuance and individual flair – a reminder of the growing standard of women’s club football across Asia.