TAIYUAN, China - The United States women's freestyle wrestling team knocked off reigning World team champion Japan on Saturday to reach the finals of the World Cup.

The U.S. will now face China in Sunday night's finals. The American team is looking for its first World Cup title since 2003.

2007 World Team member Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) upset five-time World champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Saori Yoshida at 55 kg/121 lbs. to spark the U.S. to the 4-3 upset over the powerful team from Japan. Van Dusen snapped Yoshida's 119-match winning streak.

The American squad won the final three matches against Japan as Sara McMann (Gaffney, S.C./Sunkist Kids), Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and Stephany Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) each posted victories. McMann competes at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., Downing wrestles at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. and Lee is at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Japan, the 2007 World Cup champion, will face Kazakhstan for third place. Canada will battle Ukraine for fifth place.

The American squad opened with a 4-3 win over Ukraine. Van Dusen, Leigh Jaynes (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), McMann and Downing each earned victories for the United States in that dual. Jaynes competes at 59 kg/130 lbs.

2008 WORLD CUP

Pool A

Japan dec. Ukraine 6-1
USA dec. Ukraine 4-3
USA dec. Japan 4-3

Pool B

China dec. Canada 7-0
China dec. Kazakhstan 6-1
Kazakhstan dec. Canada 4-3

Sunday's medal matches

5th Place - 10:30 a.m. China time - Canada vs Ukraine
3rd Place - 5 p.m. - Japan vs Kazakhstan
1st Place - 6 p.m. - China vs USA