Substitute Sun Ke scored with three minutes left on Sunday as China earned a point in a 3-3 draw with Japan at the East Asian Cup.
Sun's goal in the 87th gave defending champion China a share of the points after Japan had taken a 3-1 lead at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
China scored after just five minutes when Japan defender Yuzo Kurihara took Yu Dabao down in the box and Wang Yongbo converted the ensuing penalty.
Kurihara atoned for conceding the penalty with an equalizer on 33 minutes for his third international goal.
Yoichiro Kakitani gave Japan a 2-1 lead in the 59th and Masato Kudo widened the lead two minutes later.
Wang's second goal of the match in the 81st cut the lead to 3-2 before Sun's strike completed the comeback for China.
The East Asian Cup was established in 2003. China also won the tournament in 2005.
Japan faces Australia on Thursday before meeting South Korea on Sunday. South Korea won the tournament in 2003 and 2008.
