Under heavy rain at Suwon, South Korea made history by claiming their second EAFF E-1 Women's Football Championship title on home soil, their first since 2005. A 2-0 win over the Chinese Taipei team was enough to top a tight standings table after China and Japan played to a 0-0 draw.
All three leaders finished with five points (one win, two draws), and head-to-head records and goal difference were identical. The tiebreaker came down to goals scored among the tied sides: South Korea's three goals outweighed China's two and Japan's one.
In the opening minutes, the Chinese squad pressed high and launched quick attacks, but neither side could break through. Japan's Hana Takahashi came close in stoppage time, missing two late chances that might have swung the title battle.
China coach Ante Milicic praised his squad: "Both teams worked hard despite the climate. I'm proud of the way my team played and fought under tough conditions."
For South Korea, the victory reflects a rising generation of talent and tactical maturity. With solid defensive displays and clinical finishing, the host nation has sent a clear signal ahead of the global stage, while fans across East Asia celebrated a tournament that lived up to its drama-packed billing.
Reference(s):
South Korea capture East Asian Championship as China draw with Japan
cgtn.com
