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, keeping alive their hope of winning the title at home. Substitute Jeong Da-bin netted the equalizer in the 86th minute at Hwaseong Stadium in Hwaseong, some 40 kilometers south of Seoul, for 21st-ranked South Korea's second straight draw at the four-nation tournament. Yui Narumiya had the lone Japanese goal in the 37th minute.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Japan, ranked seventh in the world, had started the tournament strong 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, but Japan holds the edge in goal difference, +4 to +2. These two leading teams 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 their tournament run against Chinese Taipei at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Suwon. Should Japan and China end their match in a draw, South Korea has the potential to create a three-way tie at five points by defeating Chinese Taipei, which would then require a tiebreaker to decide the championship.

This tournament marks the ninth edition of the E-1 Women's Football Championship. South Korea won their only title at the inaugural event in 2005.