BURNLEY-born goalkeeper Rachel Brown insists England are still capable of progressing to the Women's World Cup quarter-finals - despite being denied an opening match win against Japan yesterday.

The Three Lions conceded an equaliser with the very last kick of the game as they drew 2-2 with Japan in Shanghai, China.

Aya Miyama put Japan ahead in their Group A clash with a free-kick 10 minutes into the second-half, before England striker Kelly Smith turned the game on its head with two late goals in the space of three minutes.

England looked to be on course for victory courtesy of Smith's double, but they were thwarted with another stunning free-kick from Miyama deep into injury time.

Brown, 27, admits the England camp are disappointed after throwing two crucial points away so late in the game.

But the Everton Ladies stopper believes the Three Lions are still on track in qualifying for the tournament's last eight, with two more group games remaining against World Cup holders Germany and Argentina.

"Drawing against Japan has not written us out of the World Cup," said Brown. "But there's still work to be done to get through to the next stage.

"Of course, we are disappointed at only getting a draw out of the game.

"We've taken a 2-1 lead and we've had a win snatched away from us with about two seconds to go.

"But we've got to put it in perspective. We've totally outplayed Japan and they've been in five World Cups, while this is our first for 12 years.

"We are coming up against one of the top teams in the world and dominated them. That is something positive that we can take out of it."

England's next Group A game is on Friday against Germany (1pm GMT), after Japan have played Argentina at 10am.