Japan and China PR both made several changes to their lineups for the third round, hoping to rest tired legs and still aim for victory. Going into the match, both teams had one win and one draw, meaning a win could bring them close to lifting the E-1 Football Championship trophy. The two sides showed contrasting styles. Japan focused on short passes and building play carefully, while China PR relied on strength and speed to attack open spaces. Early in the first half, both teams threatened each other with crosses. In the 8th minute, a cross from Japan’s right wing ended up in the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. In the 21st minute, Wang Shuang of China PR made a strong run down the right side, holding off defenders and trying a left-footed shot. Although it lacked accuracy, her aggressive move stood out. The first half ended 0-0.
The back-and-forth continued in the second half. In the 55th minute, Japan’s corner kick nearly led to an own goal by China PR, but the ball didn’t cross the line. As the match went on, fatigue became more obvious for both teams. In the second minute of stoppage time, Japan’s captain Takahashi Hana found a chance in front of an empty net after China PR’s defense got into trouble. But her shot went wide, and she fell to the ground in disappointment. Just two minutes later, Takahashi Hana had another chance, but again her shot missed the target. The match finished 0-0. Both Japan and China PR ended the tournament with one win and two draws. In the end, Korea Rep. claimed the championship by scoring more goals.