A last-gasp strike from Yuka Momiki earned Japan a deserved 2-2 draw against World Champions the United States in the opening round of the four-nation SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday.
Momiki smashed home a close-range finish after superb work from Yui Hasegawa in injury time to deny the USA an opening victory in the friendly football tournament at Chester's Talen Energy Stadium.
The late strike was no less than Japan's skilful play merited in a hard-fought game between the two 2015 World Cup finalists, who are building towards this year's World Cup in France.
The US looked to have done enough for victory when Alex Morgan put them 2-1 ahead in the 76th minute, cleverly steering Christen Press's cross into the Japanese net via her chest to claim her 99th international goal.
But a sweeping Japanese attack in the closing stages yielded an equaliser, with Yui Hasegawa unselfishly picking out the unmarked Momiki to score.
It was the second time Japan had come from behind to equalise, Emi Nakajima curling home a superb finish on 67 minutes to cancel out Megan Rapinoe's 23rd-minute opener for the US women.
The draw means England lead the competition after the opening fixtures in the round robin tournament.
Mead rocket downs Brazil
The English had earlier scored a 2-1 defeat of Brazil thanks to a thunderous winner from Arsenal forward Beth Mead in the first game of the day.
Second-half substitute Mead crashed in a spectacular angled shot on 75 minutes to ensure the Lionesses got off to a winning start in the tournament.
Ellen White had earlier hauled England back into the match with an equaliser in the 49th minute after Brazil had taken the lead through a controversial Andressa penalty on 16 minutes.
England, the 2015 World Cup semi-finalists, will be pleased with an opening victory after recovering from the setback of conceding an early goal.
Brazil opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Brazil captain Marta caught England counterpart Steph Houghton in possession near halfway and surged into the English penalty area.
The Brazilian veteran of four World Cup campaigns cut inside only to be dispossessed by what looked like a perfectly judged tackle by English fullback Lucy Bronze.
US referee Ekaterina Koroleva adjudged the tackle a foul however and pointed to the spot, waving away English protests.
Andressa then stepped up to ram home the spot-kick past England keeper Carly Telford.
The Lionesses did get back on level terms four minutes into the second half however with a goal that owed everything to the clever industry of Fran Kirby, the lively Chelsea playmaker threading a pass through to White, who finished past Aline for 1-1.
Aline then denied Nikita Parris a second goal for England, diving at full stretch to save the Manchester City winger's goalbound header in the 58th minute.
The introduction of Mead for Karen Carney after 66 minutes by England manager Phil Neville proved a masterstroke, however.
Nine minutes later it paid off as Mead uncorked a rasping shot from wide on the right that flew into the top corner for the winner.
The next round of fixtures in the tournament take place on Saturday, when the US face England while Japan take on Brazil.