Twice in arrears, North Korea rallied to hold their neighbours in a Group 'A' AFC women's championship match.

Defending champion North Korea and South Korea qualified for the semi-finals of the AFC women's championship after they drew 2-2 in a Group A soccer match in Bangkok on Monday.

Both teams ended with 10 points after four games, but North Korea topped the group on goal difference and will play Japan [ Images ] in the semi-finals on Thursday.

South Korea, which qualified for the last four as the best second-placed team, will meet China in the other semi-final, also on Thursday.

Overturning pre-match predictions, the South Koreans held the edge in the first-half with speed and tight marking. They took the lead in the 19th minute when Kim Jin-hee's powerful drive from outside the box hit the bar and the rebound fell to Lee Ji-Eun, who planted a powerful header into left-hand corner of the net.

The reverse spurred the defending champions into action, but they were denied an equalizer at 22 minutes when South's keeper Jung Ho-jung crudely felled striker Jin Pyol-hui on the edge of the area.

Jung was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.

On 38 minutes, North Korea drew level as Yun Yong-hui drifted infield from the left, wove her way past an opponent before looking up and unleashed a powerful, well-placed drive from 25 yards that gave Jung no chance.

South Korea retook the lead in the dying minutes of the half when North midfielder Ri Hyang-ok misjudged a cross from Sung Hyun-ah, allowing the ball to run to Hwang In-sun lurking

on the edge of the box.

South Korea started the second half brightly, with Park Eun-sun's powerful and direct running giving Sim Kum-ok and Jang Ok-gyong in the DRP Korea back line plenty to think about. But six minutes after the re-start, they were reduced to 10 players after Song Ju-hee was shown the red card, perhaps harshly, for a tackle from behind on Ru Un-gyong. Song will miss the semi-final through suspension.

The sending off changed the shape of the game, with Lee Ji-Eun dropping back into midfield, leaving Park on her own up front, and half-time substitute Kim Yoo-mi playing the holding role in front of the back four.

North Korea pressed forward but were twice denied an equaliser by the woodwork. First, Ri Kum-suk's header on 66 minutes at the far post grazed the bar and then, three minutes later, Jin also hit the bar after beating the keeper to a loose ball in the box.

But they were not to be denied and eventually drew level on 77 minutes after persistent work by Jin. The striker who scored a hat-trick to send China crashing out of the 2001 tournament evaded a number a number of tackles before placing a low right-foot shot across Jung in to the far corner for her eighth goal of the tournament.