SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Jurickson Profar battled bouts of wildness but still struck out 12 as defending champion Curacao beat Chiba City, Japan, 2-0, yesterday in the international title game of the Little League World Series.

Profar, a lanky right-hander, and Curacao avenged a 9-0 loss to Japan earlier in the tournament. The Carribean region champions will play West O'ahu today for the overall title.

"We know that (our boys) are world champions," said Curacao manager Vernon Isabella. "We came here out of 16 teams to reach the finals and we know (the players) are going to fight tomorrow to win the game."

Profar allowed two hits and struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings, though he threw erratically at times and finished with six walks.

"We feel invincible when Profar is on the mound," Curacao outfielder Rayshelon Carolina said.

He needed to be against Yusuku Taira, who allowed three hits and two runs (one unearned) while striking out nine and walking five. Taira had shut out Curacao in the pool play game.

"Taira pitched a great game today," said Japan manager Hirofumi Oda. "He pitched it where he wanted to, but in the previous game they were swinging at that (curveball). They weren't swinging at it tonight."

Taira pitched shutout ball after giving up both runs in the bottom of the first.

An error by third baseman Shuhei Iwata allowed one run to score and Sorick Liberia hit an RBI single to score Profar, who had singled earlier in the inning.

"In the first game, Japan came with a pitcher with lots of curveballs," Liberia said. "We just stayed back, waited for the breaking ball and then hit it off."

Japan threatened with two outs in the third. Taira led off with a single, then advanced to second on a cleanly executed sacrifice bunt by Takuya Sakamoto. An intentional walk to Yuki Mizuma put runners on first and second, and a five-pitch walk to pinch-hitter Kosuke Suzuki loaded the bases for Kazuki Hatada.

Profar struck out Hatada to escape unscathed.

The Little League Web site contributed to this report.