Shanghai, China (My Sportsbook) - Aya Miyama scored four minutes into stoppage time to help Japan earn a dramatic 2-2 draw with England in Group A play in the World Cup on Tuesday.

Miyama gave Japan the lead in the 55th minute on a free-kick goal, but England's Kelly Smith scored two goals in two minutes to put England ahead. However, Miyama was given one last chance before the final whistle on a free kick from 25 yards out and she made the most of it, drilling her kick over the wall and into the left corner as the whistle blew.

The result was a crucial one for both teams after Germany's 11-0 win over Argentina on Monday. The winner of this game would have had the inside track on the second spot in the group, but now these two teams will have to battle until the final day.

England will meet the powerful Germans on Friday, while Japan will be looking for nothing less than three points against Argentina in its next match on Friday.

After a lengthy feeling-out process in the opening 15 minutes, England began to control the possession and get the better of the play.

Smith got the first sight of goal in the 15th minute and she drove a low shot toward the right corner of the net that was just wide of the post.

Japan struggled to find offense in the opening 45 minutes as star midfielder Homare Sawa had little impact on the match and the Japanese attack showed little in the way of creativity.

The Asian side did get a look at goal after 26 minutes, but Miyama's shot was lofted over the net from just outside the box.

England missed a golden chance to get on the scoreboard before halftime when a through-ball from midfield allowed Eniola Aluko to get in behind the defense. The English striker beat the offside trap, and Japanese keeper Miho Fukumoto came off her line to challenge Aluko outside the area.

The keeper got to the ball first, but slid past it, allowing Aluko an open shot at goal from outside the box. Aluko drove a shot toward the far post but it slid inches past and kept the match scoreless into halftime.

England started strongly after the restart with Karen Carney being played into the box on the right and then driving a shot that was headed for the far corner. Fukumoto came up with a diving stop to keep England off the board, but it was a dangerous chance.

Despite controlling the run of play for the majority of the game, England found itself behind after 55 minutes. Miyama sent a dipping shot over the wall from 20 yards out that England keeper Rachel Brown was late to react to.

Following the goal, England continued to put pressure on the Japanese defense. Alex Scott slid a nice pass to Carney inside the box, but she shot right at the keeper. Smith then had a shot from 25 yards out just seconds later that narrowly missed the near post.

The pressure continued to mount as Aluko's header from close range was headed out of danger from inside the six-yard box, and Carney's driven cross was nodded wide by Rachel Yankey.

The stubborn Japan defense held out until the 81st minute, when Smith did well to turn with the ball inside the box and fire a low shot past the keeper to draw England level.

The England star was not done, however, and she soon added her second goal moments later to put England in front.

Smith picked up the ball on the left and carried it down the wing before beating her defender and cutting into the box. She drove a shot on goal from a tight angle that Fukumoto stopped, but Smith was not going to be denied on the rebound and she fired a right-footed shot into the back of the net.

It looked like England had survived until the final seconds, when a questionable foul call allowed Japan one last chance before the final whistle. The free kick was in a nearly identical spot, and Miyama produced the same result, driving her shot inside the left post to save a point for Japan.