FC Seoul forward Park Joo-young grabbed his first national team goals for almost two years as South Korea maintained their impressive unbeaten record against rivals China in the opening match of the East Asian Football Championship.

Park opened the scoring in the 42nd minute for Huh Jung-moo's side, but goals from Zhou Haibin two minutes after the break and Liu Jian just after the hour put the home side 2-1 up and in sight of their first ever win over South Korea. Park struck back two minutes after Jian's counter with a delightful free kick effort, and then Chunnam Dragons stopper Kwak Tae-hwi netted a minute from time to claim the three points.

South Korea will face North Korea on Wednesday in their second match of the tournament. North Korea opened their EAFF campaign with a 1-1 draw against Japan immediately following South Korea's win, with Kawasaki Frontale striker Jung Tae-se's opener for the Koreans cancelled out by Ryoichi Maeda.

South Korea 3-2 China
(Park Joo-young 42, 65, Kwak Tae-hwi 90)