The 17-time Japanese champions went into Saturday’s decider sitting comfortably at the top of the table, having beaten host club and Korea Republic champions Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels 2-0 on Thursday after being held by China PR’s Jiangsu Suning Ladies FC 1-1 on the opening day.

The result gave Masato Nagata’s side a final tally of seven points, two points above second-placed Jiangsu Suning who closed the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Hyundai Steel Red Angels.

Beleza captain Mina Tanaka netted a superb hat-trick, with Sara Ito and Kokona Iwasaki also getting on the scoresheet, as the rulers of Japan’s domestic scene demonstrated their class to the rest of the Continent.

The result gave Masato Nagata’s side a final tally of seven points, creating an unassailable four-point lead over second-placed Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels, who will close the tournament against Jiangsu Suning later on Saturday.

The Red Angels came into the tie one point ahead of the Chinese champions, but an excellent brace from Jiangsu’s Malawian star meant Jocelyn Precheur’s side finished with five points, two behind Japan’s Nippon TV Beleza, who sealed the title earlier in the day.

While Jiangsu’s earlier results in tournament meant they weren’t able to add to the four trophies they won domestically this year, Saturday’s win meant their campaign at the FIFA-AFC Pilot Tournament ended without defeat.

The 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup-winning forward says it’s up to Beleza to bring the title back to Japan and reinforce the country’s reputation as Asian’s women’s football powerhouse.

Claiming the title would provide Ueki with a positive end to a rollercoaster year, which has included the highs of a trophy-laden campaign for Beleza and a senior international debut for Japan, as well the heartbreak of missing the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup due to a last-minute injury.

Maher opened the scoring in her side’s 1-1 draw with Chinese champions Jiangsu Suning to write her name into the history books and the promising midfielder sees a future where many more players will have the chance to follow in her footsteps.

Ueki’s header opened the scoring just after half time, before Kobayashi sealed the win in the dying seconds, helping Masato Nagata’s side to leapfrog the tournament hosts and put themselves 90 minutes away from being Asia’s first ever women’s club champions.

With four points from two matches, Beleza’s win means they’ll be able to seal the inaugural club crown with a win over Australia’s Melbourne Victory on Saturday, while the tournament hosts, who are a point behind, could go into their match with Jiangsu Suning with the title already lost.

Jiangsu’s impressive Malawian striker Tabitha Chawinga wrote her name into the history books with the tournament’s first goal in the seventh minute, but Beleza were level just three minutes later thanks to Mjna Tanaka before a second half arm-wrestle.

The result keeps both sides in title contention with two further matches to play in the competition.