Japan

Permitting less fouls, Japan played stunning footy getting the Brazillians into a defensive mode.

Japan blazed through with several attempts, from striker Yuka Momiki that got countless wide shots from penalties before flanker Miyabi Moriy cracked the score board open in the seconds of the four minutes extra time before the break.

Brazilians stiff defence was not strong enough as Japan maintained ball possession and  limited their fouls to pull in front.

It will be a deciding second half as the win for tonight determines the fate of both teams.

Japan coach Asako Takakura said following their victory over Canada 5-0, that their next game will be the knockout stage so they will have to win it.

Takakura said if they lose the game their World Cup dream will be over so they will definitely push forward and trust themselves.

She added that individually each player will have to step up in order to progress to the next stage of the finals.

Coach Takakura admitted that although the game against Canada was tough, they were able to keep it under control and that worked out well for them.

The quarter-final match will no doubt be a tough and aggressive game between the two group finalists with Brazil in Group A  and Japan in Group B.

Brazil’s defender and Player of the Match in the game against Sweden on Sunday, Daiane Silve said they need to play in the same level against Japan and will do their best to win each match.

Coach Dorival Bueno said Japan is a very strong team and was one of the teams they met last year in the qualifying cup.

The girls in red suffered their third loss in the tournament while Japan has made it through to the quarter finals.

Japan scored through Yui Hasegawa, top scorer Mami Ueno, Honoka Hayashi and Hina Sugita.

Ueno now has four goals to her name in this tournament.

Japan showed no mercy taking the lead at half time 2-0 in this last round of the group matches.

Hasegawa opened the score board for Japan scoring in the 25th minute of the match in front of a crowd of 5,439 people.

The Canadian squad suffered a 5-0 loss against Spain in their opening match and went down again 3-1 against Nigeria in their second in the Group B match at Bava Park on Wednesday.

Today, the women in red and white (Canada) will face champions Japan in their final group match before bowing out for the finals.

Japan will be looking to see Canada off with a win to qualify for a spot for the quarter finals or else the rival team Nigeria, who are currently tied at 3 points each will book the spot if they beat Spain.

Although Japan provided stiff opposition for the reigning champions, a direct penalty kick conceived by Maria Caldentey from a hand ball by Hisui Haza ultimately gave Spain a fairly comfortable victory.

As is so often the case, Japan struck at the opening minutes in the first half with several attempts by skipper Ruka Norimatsu culminating Japans circuit on the pitch but Spain backliners could not allow Japan forwards through as both teams went off for break at nil all.

Japan's No. 10 Yuka Momiki and No.18 Mami Ueno scored three goals each, while  Nigeria scored one goal into their own net. 

Leading by 2 in the first half, Japan continued its firey form in the second half in front of a crowd of 1,651. 

Going into the second half with 66 percent ball possession, Japan was awarded an early penalty in front of Nigerian goal mouth seven minutes into the second half. 

Japan's Momiki scored her second goal for the night in the 51st minute, expanding their lead 3-0. 

The second match at Bava Park this evening had a firing start with Japan taking a penalty kick in front of Nigeria's goalmouth in the second minute of the match, only to find the outside corner net.

The local supporters added that boost for Japan, who had more possession of the ball in the entire first half of the match.

Awesome defense by Nigeria's defenders prevented a goal to Japan in the 7th and 8th minutes of the match.

Both teams have one win, one lose and a draw against each other.

Nigeria has had 7 appearances at the World Cup since 2002, while Japan stands at 4 appearances in the competition.

Neither teams have a title against them. Together their total scored goals stand at 8, that's 4 goals each from previous World Cup meets.

The Japanese side will be captained by defender and No. 5 Ruka Norimatsu, while Nigeria will be led by goalkeeper Sandra Chiichii.

Pictured in navy blue are the Japanese warming up before the match.

But come 2018, these fleeting fireballs will no longer be left to chance.

Japanese space start-up ALE is developing the technology to deliver on-demand man-made meteors, which could turn the night sky into a blank canvas.

"Imagine a future, where you can use our meteors for international fireworks displays, a proposal for marriage, or a special memorial," says Shinsuke Abe, ALE's research director and Nihon University aerospace engineering professor.