Hwaseong: South Korea held two-time defending champions Japan to a 1-1 draw at the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Women's Football Championship on Sunday, maintaining their hopes of winning the title at home. Substitute Jeong Da-bin netted the equalizer in the 86th minute at Hwaseong Stadium, approximately 40 kilometers south of Seoul, marking 21st-ranked South Korea's second consecutive draw in the four-nation tournament. Japan's Yui Narumiya scored the lone Japanese goal in the 37th minute.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Japan, ranked seventh in the world, opened the tournament with a 4-0 victory over 42nd-ranked Chinese Taipei last Wednesday and currently leads the tournament with four points. China, ranked 17th globally, also reached four points after defeating Chinese Taipei 4-2 earlier on Sunday. Japan holds the advantage in goal difference, +4 to +2. Japan and China are scheduled to face each other at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, about 30 kilometers south of Seoul.
South Korea, now with two points, will conclude the tournament against Chinese Taipei at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Suwon. If Japan and China draw, South Korea could create a three-way tie at five points by defeating Chinese Taipei. In such a case, a tiebreaker will determine the champion. This is the ninth edition of the E-1 Women's Football Championship, and South Korea won their only title at the inaugural event in 2005.
South Korea initially held their ground and exchanged scoring opportunities with Japan. Early in the match, Kang Chae-rim hit the right side of the goal on a counterattack, while Japan's Riko Yoshida fired a shot wide in the 20th minute. Kim Min-ji missed an open net in the 21st minute, and again misfired shortly thereafter. Narumiya capitalized on a South Korean turnover in the 37th minute, scoring from a sharp angle after a pass from Haruna Aikama.
In the second half, South Korea's best chance before the equalizer came when Mun Eun-ju hit the right post in the 82nd minute. Jeong Da-bin then scored the equalizer after receiving a low cross from Mun, redirecting the ball into the far corner. South Korea managed to withstand Japan's late pressure, with Kim Min-jung making a crucial save during stoppage time to preserve the draw.