Tokyo Sungoliath came back to beat Yokohama Eagles 11-9 in a high-stakes Japan Rugby League One clash Saturday after Tevita Tatafu crossed late for the solitary try at a rain-soaked Nissan Stadium.
Their victory in the penultimate round of the regular season ensures third-place Sungoliath will advance to the championship playoffs involving the league's top four finishers.
Eagles, meanwhile, earned a vital bonus point from their narrow loss, lifting them back into fourth place after Brave Lupus Tokyo's bonus-point win had pushed them out of the playoff frame overnight.
With the teams trading penalties in the slippery conditions, Eagles had never trailed until Japan No. 8 Tatafu went over in the 72nd minute after Sungoliath set up a maul from a lineout.
Sungoliath replacement back Taiga Ozaki almost added a second try in the closing minutes but was tackled into touch just short of the line.
The result leaves Yokohama on 49 points, one point ahead of Brave Lupus in the battle for the fourth and final championship playoff berth.
Eagles will face Kobe Steelers in their last regular-season fixture next weekend, while Brave Lupus will meet defending champions Saitama Wild Knights.
In a shock result, previously undefeated league leaders Wild Knights lost 44-25 to Shizuoka BlueRevs at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, snapping their win streak at 14 games from the opening round of the season.
With the exception of forfeit losses under coronavirus safety protocols, Wild Knights had not been beaten since the 2018-19 top-flight season.
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