Chinese player Shao Ziqin (No.20) scores against South Korea during their match at the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, also known as the East Asian Cup, in Suwon, South Korea on July 9, 2025. The match finished 2-2. Photo: VCG

A late goal by South Korea's Ji So-yun denied the Chinese women's national team an opening win at the East Asian Football Championship as they were held to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday in Suwon, South Korea.

A goal from Yao Wei in the 15th minute helped China take the lead, until South Korea's Jang Sei-gi leveled the scoreboard before the half-time break. 

It was Shao Ziqin who brought the national team back to the lead in the 67th minute, but the national team failed to weather the offensive storm from the South Korean team that resulted in Ji's goal in additional time.

The Chinese team will on Sunday take on the Chinese Taipei team, who were defeated by Japan 4-0 earlier on Wednesday.

The Chinese team currently sits in 17th place in the FIFA Women's rankings, while South Korea is in 21st place. Japan remains the top team in Asia as it ranks at world No.7.

China's women's national team, known as the "Steel Roses," has a storied past in international football. 

With a remarkable record of achievements, including a runner-up finish in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup and nine AFC Women's Asian Cup titles, the team has long been a force to be reckoned with. 

The Steel Roses' squad for the East Asian Championship is a blend of experienced veterans and promising young talents. 

Key players such as Wang Shuang, Tang Jiali, and Zhang Linyan, who were part of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup-winning team, are expected to lead the young generation of athletes.  

In addition to the seasoned players, the team also features emerging talents like Shao Ziqing and Lyu Yatong, who have been making waves at domestic and international competitions. 

The triumph of Wuhan Jiangda in the Asian Women's Champions League in May has significantly boosted the morale of Chinese women's football, which in recent years has hit a slump. 

The victory not only marked a historic moment for the club but also injected new vitality into domestic football. 

The team's tenacious performances, especially in the knockout stages where they overcame strong opponents like the highly fancied Urawa Red Diamonds, have been inspiring.

Four players from the winning Wuhan team, namely Wang, Yao, Wu Haiyan and Song Duan, are now part of the national team's lineup for the East Asian Championship. 

Held biennially, the tournament features some of the best women's football teams in East Asia, including those from China, Japan and South Korea.