Japan win sets up final with US

Japan's softball team celebrates beating Australia

Japan have a chance to avenge their semi-final defeat by the US after beating Australia 4-3 in a play-off to reach the final at the second attempt.

The Japanese had a second chance at gold courtesy of the Page play-off system and faced the Australians, who earlier beat Canada 5-3.

Defeat against Japan means Australia go home with the bronze medal.

Thursday's golden finale will be softball's last game in the Olympics until at least 2016.

Earlier, Crystl Bustos hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning as the US beat Japan 4-1 to reach the final .