Calgary-Japan scored once per. Point and third finished third to beat Czech Republic 3-2 in the placement game at the Women’s Hockey World Championships in Calgary on Sunday.
Hane Kubo, Rui Ukita and Akane Shiga scored for Japan and goalkeeper Nana Fujimoto made 31 saves.
Japan will face Russia in the fight for fifth place on Tuesday, where the winner will get a place in Group A next year.
Elena Mills and Daniela Pejsova scored for the Czech Republic, who scored 17 shots in the third period.
Shiga took Japan 3-1 with 1:58 before the game before Pegasova reacted 43 seconds later. There was a crazy end when goalkeeper Klara Peslarova drew with time, but the Czechs could not find the equalizer.
Russia beat Germany 3-2 against the winner of Oksana Bratysheva last Sunday.
Veronika Korzhakova and Anna Savonina also scored for Russia.
German Nikola Eisenschmidt opened the goal with 3:49 in the second third, and Kerstin Spielberger scored 17:22.
Russian Nadezhda Marozova allowed two goals in 15 shots before being substituted in the middle of the second period. Valeria Merkusheva stopped all nine shots with relief.
Goalkeeper Franziska Albal blocked 23 of 26 shots for Germany.
The five-time defending champions will face the US against Finland and Canada from Switzerland in the semi-finals on Monday.
Russia is to accept a 3-2 draw against Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday. Canada defeated Germany 7–0 to reach the semi-finals.
The medal games are planned for Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 29, 2021.