TOKYO (AP) — South Africa earned the 12th and last berth in the Olympic men’s field hockey tournament by beating Japan 2-1 Sunday in the final of the qualifying competition.
Japan’s men’s team was bidding for its first Olympic slot in 44 years. The Japanese women qualified Saturday with a 5-1 win over Azerbaijan.
South Africa entered the tournament as the top-seeded team. It secured its third straight appearance at the Olympics.
Thornton McDade and Lloyd Norris Jones scored in the second half for South Africa. Kenji Kitazato scored for Japan with six minutes left but South Africa held on.
