Korea drew 1-1 against Japan.
The South Korean women's soccer team, led by coach Shin Sang-woo, played to a 1-1 draw against Japan in the second match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship at the Hwaseong Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province on the evening of the 13th.
Korea secured one point from this game following a draw in the first match against China.
Korea started with Kim Min-ji and Ji So-yeon as forwards, while Lee Geum-min and Jeong Min-young formed the midfield. On the flanks were Moon Eun-joo and Kang Chae-rim, and the defense consisted of Jang Seul-ki, Noh Jin-young, Ko Yu-jin, and Kim Hye-ri. The goal was guarded by Kim Min-jeong.
Japan started with goalkeeper Akane Okuma, along with Hana Takahashi, Oto Kanno, Yui Narumiya, Yuzuki Yamamoto, Riko Yoshida, Mami Ueno, Megu Hamada, Yoshino Nakashima, Haruna Aigawa, and Rion Ishikawa.
Korea showed enthusiastic movement from the beginning. They took control of the rhythm with forward pressing and quick pass plays, creating several opportunities. Just four minutes after kickoff, Kang Chae-rim opened the shooting with the first attempt, and they remained active in both offense and defense.
In the 20th minute of the first half, Lee Geum-min lost the ball from the back and faced a scoring crisis, but Japan's Yoshida's shot went just wide of the goalpost, allowing Korea to escape danger. Soon after, while Moon Eun-joo collided with the opposing goalkeeper, Kim Min-ji shot toward an empty goal but the ball skimmed over the crossbar. Afterwards, Kim Min-ji, receiving a cutback from Kang Chae-rim, aimed again with her left foot but failed to convert.
The first goal was scored by Japan. In the 37th minute of the first half, Narumiya calmly shook the net with a shot after receiving a clever pass from Aigawa inside the box.
The first half concluded with Japan in the lead.
In the 4th minute of the second half, Korea had a chance to equalize. Due to a pass miss from the goalkeeper, Moon Eun-joo passed to Jang Seul-ki charging into the box, but the defense closed in and the shot did not reach the goal.
Afterwards, Korea gained momentum and started to dominate the game. They recovered the ball through high pressing and continued to knock on Japan's goal. However, scoring proved elusive.
In the 23rd minute of the second half, Korea hit the ground. Choo Hyo-joo, who advanced with the ball into the box, fired a powerful right-footed shot but it went over the crossbar.
Korea substituted Jeong Da-bin into the match, bringing Kang Chae-rim off the bench in the 26th minute of the second half.
Korea hit the ground again. In the 37th minute of the second half, the ball reached Moon Eun-joo who had penetrated into the box, and she calmly deceived the goalkeeper before shooting. The ball hit the goalpost and was safely gathered by goalkeeper Okuma.
Korea dramatically equalized. In the 41st minute of the second half, Moon Eun-joo, receiving the ball from the flank, sent a low cross into the box that Jeong Da-bin pushed in, leveling the score at 1-1.
Five minutes of stoppage time were added. Toward the end of the match, Japan launched a fierce attack, but goalkeeper Kim Min-jeong denied all attempts, maintaining the 1-1 balance. The match ended in a draw.
[OSEN]