KAKAMIGAHARA (Japan), May 4: Japan’s men take on South Africa for a place in the Olympics after the hosts stormed back to squeeze past China 3-2 on Friday and destroy Chinese hopes of making it to the London Games.

Japan sealed a place in Sunday’s face-off by finishing top in the six-team round robin, with South Africa second. Both were unbeaten after five games, leaving China in third and going home.

Japan twice had to come back from a goal down after Ya Yubo scored for China in the 10th and 30th minutes.

Knowing a draw was not enough, China played the last two minutes without a goalkeeper, who was replaced by an outfield player, allowing Japan to grab the winner thanks to Kazuhiro Tsubouchi’s goal on the counter-attack.—AFP