Japan ended the 2008 AFC Futsal Championship on a winning note as they claimed third place with a 5-3 victory over China at Nimibutr Stadium on Sunday.

Source the-afc.com
BANGKOK - Japan ended the 2008 AFC Futsal Championship on a winning note as they claimed third place with a 5-3 victory over China at Nimibutr Stadium on Sunday.

An entertaining encounter saw Sergio Sapo's side take a two-goal lead before twice being pegged back by the Chinese only to seal victory in the final minute of the game.

Japan enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first-half and nearly took the lead in fortuitous circumstances when Kenichiro Kogure's run ended with a weak cross that a Chinese defender diverted onto his own post.

However, they went ahead soon after when Daisuke Ono was given time outside the area and picked his spot with a low, left-foot strike past keeper Zheng Tao.

Japan threatened to extend their advantage and Kenta Fujii twisted and turned before seeing his shot deflected narrowly wide.

China looked to get back into the game as the half drew to a close and Liang Shuang brought a smart save out of Hisao Sadanaga with a powerful free-kick before Liu Xinyi lifted an effort over the bar when bearing down on the Japanese keeper.

Japan doubled their lead with less than two minutes gone in the second half when Yusuke Komiyama's cross took a slight deflection into the path of Yusuke Inada and he tapped in at the back post.

China soon pulled a goal back, however, as Wang Wei found space in the area before laying the ball off to Zhang Xi, who side-footed home.

Liu saw a close-range header clawed away by Sadanaga before the keeper denied Hu Jie after he had created an opening for himself.

But China did draw level when Li Jian was body checked after a forceful run but the ball broke to Liu and he calmly rounded Sadanaga before applying the finish into an empty net.

Japan regained the lead with just over five minutes remaining when Kogure fired home but Farinha's side hit back straight away as Liang found the bottom corner with an angled strike.

Li was then superbly denied by a fingertip save from Sadanaga before Japan went ahead once more with just under a minute left when a well-worked move saw Komiyama side-foot the ball between Zheng's legs.

Inada then made sure of victory when he scored from his own half into an empty net with Zheng out of position.