DOHA, Dec 2: South Korea's baseball woes continued on Saturday with the defending champions losing 10-7 to arch rival Japan, leaving their dream of winning another Asian Games gold in tatters.

It was a double setback for the Koreans who wanted to avenge their semi-final loss to Japan in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.

Following their defeat to Taiwan on Thursday, Korea will now do well to just get bronze.

Currently, China and Japan are 2 for 2 in the round robin, both with three more games to play. The Koreans are 0 for 2.

Japan all but ended Korea's golden hopes, but only after a nail-biting ninth inning. Japan took the third inning 5-4 and the fourth inning 2-0. Korea recovered magnificently, winning the fifth 0-1 and the eighth 0-2 to make the overall score 7-7.

Then, in a dramatic ninth inning turnaround, Japan won 0-3, beating one of Asia's greatest teams in the dying moments of the game.

“Japan is a batting team. We were always known as a pitching team but this year we are a very good batting team,” said Japan coach Masahisa Sakaguchi.

Korean manager Kim Jae Park failed to turn up for his post-game press conference, leaving Korean Olympic official Gu Kyung Baik to explain. “As the defeated manager, he couldn't face the fans (watching on television in Korea). That's why he refused to be interviewed.”—AFP