Japan silenced a hostile crowd by grinding out a bruising 1-0 win over hosts China at the East Asian championship on Wednesday.
Koji Yamase hammered Japan in front after 17 minutes at Olympic Sports Center and the visitors held on to take all three points to stay in the hunt for their first trophy under coach Takeshi Okada.
Japan has four points from two games at the four-team tournament having drawn 1-1 with North Korea in its opening match on Sunday.
South Korea, 3-2 winners over China on Sunday, were to face neighbors North Korea at the same venue.
Japan plays archrival South Korea in the final round on Saturday when China plays North Korea.
China started brightly but Japan took the lead when Yamase smashed home from close range after China goalkeeper Zong Lei fumbled a low cross from the left by Yuichi Komano.
However, Okada's men were forced to spend long periods of the first half on the back foot as China hit back in search in an equalizer.
Tempers flared when Japan captain Keita Suzuki became involved in a shoving match with Li Weifeng and North Korean referee O Thae Song acted quickly to intervene before removing a bottle that had been thrown onto the pitch.
Yuzo Tashiro had a goal disallowed for Japan for offside and he should have put the game out of reach but blazed off target deep into stoppage time.
