SHANGHAI, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Host team China edged Japan 12-11 at the 5-8 place classification of the FINA Women's Water Polo World League Super Final 2017 here on Saturday.
China opened the Super Final with a win over Australia on Tuesday before losing to Hungary, Canada, and Russia consecutively and had to fight for the 5-8 placing. The host team will meet the Netherlands on Sunday to fight for the fifth place.
It was not an easy match for China to beat Japan. China had been 8-9 behind after the first three periods but found the pace in the last one and had taken a 12-10 lead. Japan fought to the last minute but only managed to make it 11-12.
The United States will defend its title against Canada in the gold-medal match after beating Hungary 8-4 on Saturday. The United States has won 10 Super Final titles since the event's inception in 2004. Canada upset Russia 11-10 with a withering 7-2 second half and a penalty stop in the dying seconds.
Also on Saturday, the Netherlands defeated Australia 9-5.
The FINA Women's Water Polo World League Super Final was held in Shanghai from June 6 to 11.
