Japan had needed a win to qualify, or for China to lose to go through, and the results leave them on ten points at the top of the six team group with one round of games left, while the Aussies are in third place on six points.

The top two will progress to play in London next year.

North Korea are in pole position to take the second spot at the Olympics, and will be confident of doing just that on Sunday when they face Thailand, who have lost all four games played so far in China.

On four points, South Korea cannot qualify, but Australia can make it to London if they win the clash between the two and Thailand prevent North Korea from winning.

China also have an outside chance of qualifying if North Korea lose, Australia fail to win and they can beat Japan, and there will be huge disappointment if they fail after the men's team were knocked out of Olympic qualifying by Oman earlier this year.

Japan had gone ahead against North Korea with a goal from Yūki Nagasato (pictured) less than 10 minutes from time, but Kim Jo Ran struck an equaliser deep into stoppage time to secure what could be a priceless point.

Emily Van Egmond (pictured) scored the crucial goal for Australia to beat China midway through the second period, and Homare Sawa, who won the golden boot for Japan during the World Cup in June, said: "I'm so relieved.

"It's been a big goal for us to make the London Olympics."

Japan's coach Norio Sasaki added: "We allowed the late equaliser after some mistakes, and we can't do anything about what happened.

"The good thing was that we scored from limited chances.

"We just have to regroup and play well in our next match."

Midfielder Aya Miyama said: "We knew exactly how they were going to attack in that situation [sending a long ball into the box], so it's a shame we allowed them to equalise.

"We needed to move the ball around in the dying stages.

"The way we lost the ball wasn't good at all.

"But I don't think we need to be so upset because we didn't lose."

After claiming World Cup glory this year, Japan will be confident that they can go one match better than in Beijing 2008, when they lost in the semi-finals of the Olympic tournament.

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