The Tahiti beach soccer team were left to rue the game that got away after bowing out in the quarter finals of the World Cup.
The Tiki Toa reached the World Cup quarter finals. Photo: Facebook/Fédération Tahitienne de Football
The Tiki Toa took a 3-2 lead against Japan with 23 seconds remaining, only for Takaaki Oba to equalise immediately and send the game to extra time.
After going behind again, Tamatoa Tetauira levelled the scores at 4-4 before Japan scored what proved to the match-winner two minutes from time.
Tahiti captain Raimana Li Fung Kuee admitted it was a tough way to be eliminated.
"I'm sad because just 23 seconds before the end of the game we won 3-2 and the team who doesn't make a lot of fault or mistakes won the game and today it was Japan."
Tahiti beach soccer star Raimana Li Fung Kuee. Photo: Supplied
The veteran forward, who has appeared at six consecutive World Cups, said they simply made too many mistakes in key moments.
"We make so much fault and in quarter finals of a World Cup we cannot do this," he said.
"We pay cash and now we lose against Japan so I'm very sad for the team and for the country."
Tahiti only had nine available players take to the sand on Thursday, with four players contracting Covid-19 earlier in the tournament and one injured.
But Li insisted that did not excuse their performance.
"In 23 seconds you can win the game and at the start you concede one goal," he said.
"It's hard to accept that for me because we watch some video about that and for me it's not an excuse. It's our fault and entirely our fault we lose this game."
Tahiti were beaten by Japan in the World Cup quarter finals. Photo: Facebook/Fédération Tahitienne de Football
The Covid-19 pandemic has hit hard in French Polynesia, where the virus has now spread to 45 islands and claimed 370 lives.
Li said the Tiki Toa hoped their performances would bring some joy to everyone back at home during a difficult time.
"We really want to go for the semi finals for the player who can't play who have the Covid, for the country, for everything, for family, for all the polynesians in the world.
"It's like that, it's sport: you must have a winner and a loser so today Japan win."
Japan will face Senegal for a place in the final against either Switzerland or World Cup hosts Russia.