Korea Republic's men's and women's national teams both claimed important victories to keep their respective 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship campaigns alive in Busan on Sunday.

Paulo Bento's charges claimed a 1-0 win over China in the men's competition, while the Korea Republic women's team ended a nine-month winless streak with a convincing 3-0 victory over Chinese Taipei, with both tournaments now set to be decided by Korea Republic-Japan clashes in midweek.

Men's tournament: Korea Republic 1-0 China

An early goal from Kim Min-jae proved decisive as Korea Republic made it two wins from two with a 1-0 success over China.

The Beijing Guoan defender scored in the 13th minute, setting up a winner-takes-all clash between Korea Republic and Japan to decide the EAFF E-1 Football Championship title on Wednesday.

After labouring to a 2-0 win over Hong Kong on Wednesday, head coach Bento's almost entirely East Asian-based side were expecting another tough challenge against China PR, and they were given an early scare when Dong Xuesheng narrowly missed with a close-range volley.

Despite that close call, it was the hosts who took the lead when the China-based Kim used every bit of his 188-centimetre frame to angle a header across Liu Dianzuo and into the net following Ju Se-jong's corner kick.

The Koreans created the bulk of the scoring opportunities both before and after the interval, but it was a case of quantity rather than quality, with few of them coming close to adding to the margin.

Korea Republic will need to win against Japan on Wednesday to become regional champions, while Japan can claim the title with a draw or better. China will face Hong Kong in the hope of finishing the competition in third place.

Women's tournament: Korea Republic 3-0 Chinese Taipei

Korea Republic claimed what they hope will be the first of many wins under new coach Colin Bell, comfortably accounting for Chinese Taipei 3-0 to set up a final day decider against Japan.

Kang Chae-rim starred with a brace, while Jung Seol-bin added a late third to ensure the hosts will go into Tuesday's clash with the Nadeshiko with their destiny in their own hands.

Sunday's success means Korea Republic will lift the trophy for the first time since 2005 with a win on Tuesday, while Japan only need to avoid defeat to add the East Asian titles to the AFC Women's Asian Cup and Asian Games titles, they claimed in 2018.

While Chinese Taipei had been dealt a 9-0 lesson by Japan in their opening fixture on Wednesday, the Koreans – fielding a largely experimental line-up - were looking to put an end to a nine-match winless streak, and Kang set them on the right path when she notched the opener in the 29th minute.

Kang benefitted from a poor piece of goalkeeping from Cheng Ssu-yu, who spilled a speculative long-range effort from Jeon Eun-ha directly into the path of the Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels forward, who calmly converted the chance to register her first international goal.

Kazuo Echigo's Chinese Taipei outfit showed greater defensive steel than against Japan four days earlier, but their hopes of claiming a point evaporated further with 20 minutes remaining, with Cheng this time beaten by Kang at her near post after a clever pass from Kwon Eun-som created the opportunity.

Jang Sel-gi came on as a substitute and promptly ratted the upright, but it was Jung who put the icing on the cake with three minutes remaining, when she evaded the attention of the Chinese Taipei defence to head home Lee So-dam's corner kick, and keep Korea Republic in the running for a piece of silverware that would get the Bell era underway in the best possible fashion.

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