A sluggish China side needed a last-gasp goal three minutes from stoppage time to come from behind and beat the Republic of Korea (ROK) 3-2 in the opener of the East Asian Women's Football Championship yesterday in Chongqing.

Chinese players celebrate a goal during the East Asian Women's Football Championship against South Korea in Chongqing February 18, 2008. The host won 3-2. [Xinhua]

Xu Yuan headed in a deflected ball in the 87th minute after Guo Yue's powerful shot hit the bar, sealing a must-win match for embattled French head coach Elisabeth Loisel, who is already facing the axe after repeated clashes with officials and disagreements with some players over her training style.

The team started slowly on the rain-soaked pitch and failed to give any serious challenge to ROK's goalkeeper in the first half.

It was ROK - loser of the last two matches against China - that controlled the midfield and threatened to score.

But luck turned in China's favor just before the break as centerback Wang Kun, who was unmarked on the far post, headed Bi Yan's free kick toward the goal line, giving striker Han Duan an easy look to net the goal.

But ROK battled back in the second half as striker Park Hee-young scored a double to leapfrog China for a 2-1 lead within 10 minutes. Han scored again to equalize for China in the 80th minute before Xu's winning effort.

China and Japan stood on top of the table of the four-nation round robin with three points each. Japan stunned Asia No 1 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 3-2 earlier yesterday.