Jung scores late as S. Korea holds Japan to 1-1 draw

South Korean foward Jung Seol-bin celebrates after scoring the equalizer against Japan in the 86th minute during the Asian women’s Olympic football qualifying match at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka, Japan, Wednesday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. / Yonhap

By John Duerden

It was a case of what might have been for South Korea's women as they tied Japan 1-1 in Asian qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics on Wednesday in Osaka. It was a very good result for the female Taeguk Warriors but had Ji So-yun not missed a second half penalty, very good could have become great.

After the same scoreline against North Korea two days previously, it leaves South Korea still in with a chance of qualifying for the tournament in Brazil later this year. It won't be easy. Six teams are in the final round and after they all play each other, just the top two are successful.

Japan, world champion in 2011 and runner-up last year and silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics, was the favorite especially on home soil but has now collected one point from two games. The surprise leader is Australia, South Korea's next opponent.

There will be confidence after this performance. Japan, stung by its defeat at the hands of Australia, started strongly with Kumi Yokoyama, lively throughout, going close early in the game and hitting the woodwork.

It was looking ominous for the women in red but slowly they started to get back in the game without really threatening to score from open play.

The game really got going in the 67th minute. Yukari Kinga pushed Jung Seol-bin in the area and Ji So-yun, one of the leading players in the world, stepped up to take the penalty. The kick was too soft and too close to Miho Fukumoto and the goalkeeper made the save.

Shortly after, the host took the lead. Nahomi Kawasumi centered and goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi came for the ball and missed. Iwabuchi Mana was then left to head the ball into an empty net.

The home crowd in Osaka prepared to salute a vital win but the celebrations were cut short three minutes from time. If Kim's error was clear, the mistake made by Japan's number one was catastrophic.

Lee Mina's cross looked to be a simple catch for Fukomoto and so it was but then, under little pressure, she dropped the ball and there was Jung to shoot home for her second goal in successive games.

The frantic host pushed forward in search of the winner that never came.

If Australia can be overcome on Friday then South Korea will be able to dream of Brazil but there is still a lot of football to be played.