The Japan men's soccer team was sent crashing out of the Beijing Games after a 2-1 defeat to Nigeria on Sunday.
Second-half goals from Victor Obinna and Victor Anichebe sentenced Yasuharu Sorimachi's men to their second defeat of the tournament at Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, shattering their hopes of giving Japan a first Olympic medal in 40 years.
Nigeria's first win moves it onto four points from two games, one ahead of the United States, which was set to play European Under-21 champions the Netherlands later in the day.
Japan will now be playing for pride in its final Group B against the Netherlands on Wednesday.