Japan finish fifth in Pool A after holding Belgium 2-2

A goal-less first period followed by four strikes in the second half saw Japan's Cherry Blossoms and Belgium's Red Panthers play out a 2-2 draw in their Pool A encounter in the GreenFields Stadium. The result was far better for Japan than it was for Belgium, giving the Asian Champions a fifth place finish in the pool to secure a spot in the 9-10 classification match.  Belgium finish bottom of the Pool, and will play in the 11-12 classification game. 

Both teams started the game knowing that a win would be enough to reach the 9-10 play-off match, although a draw would ensure that the Cherry Blossoms remained above the Red Panthers in the standings. Neither side could manage to make a mark on the score-board in the first half, although the period certainly had its interesting moments.  Belgium's Lieselotte van Lindt saw a shot blocked while a diving deflection from Japan's Ayaka Nishimura travelled just wide of the left post. 

The half finished with a medley of Japanese penalty corners and a whole host of drama. Two early breaks in quick succession resulted in the Belgium usual five player defence being reduced to three, massively increasing Japan's chances of making the set piece count. Incredibly, the three player defence managed to clear their lines on two separate occasions, ensure that the Europeans went into half time level with the Asian Champions. 

Those missed opportunities would came back to haunt Japan at the start of the second half, with Emilie Sinia opening the scoring two minutes after the break with a superb reverse stick deflection that travelled through the open legs of goalkeeper Yuka Yoshikawa. 

Japan restored parity in the 44th minute thanks to a wonderful piece of improvisation when Ayaka Nishimura produced an impressive backhand volley to fire the ball over shoulder of the keeper from close range. 

The Cherry Blossoms moved ahead for the first time when Akane Shibata slammed home from close range before Belgium went for broke and replaced their goalkeeper with another outfield player. That risky tactic paid off three minutes from time when Manon Simons cracked a shot into the roof of the net to make it 2-2, breathing new life into Belgian hopes of a late, late winner. The Red Panthers kept their extra outfield player on the pitch and earned a penalty corner in the very last minute of the match, but excellent defensive work from Japan cleared the danger and sealed a fifth place finish in Pool A. 

"Our target was sixth place, but now we are in the 9th and 10th place match so we will push for the win", said Japan coach You Seung Jin speaking to pitch side interviewer Simon Mason. "We will try our best to get ninth place."

Belgium striker Jill Boon felt that her team's performance against Japan was arguably their worst of the Rabobank Hockey World Cup. "I think we have grown a lot in the tournament but today was too much", said Boon. "We lost the ball a lot and we ran after it and it was very difficult to keep the level high. I think we played our worst game and that is a big pity."