Mizuho Sakaguchi steers Japan into Women's World Cup quarter-finals

Mizuho Sakaguchi scored the winner as champions Japan beat Holland to reach the World Cup quarter-finals in Canada.

Saori Ariyoshi put Japan ahead after only 10 minutes in Vancouver, steering home after Yuki Ogimi's header rebounded out off the crossbar.

Sakaguchi doubled the lead with a curled shot 12 minutes from time before Kirsten van de Ven scored with an injury-time header to ensure a nervous finish for the current holders.

But Japan held on to book a meeting with Australia, ranked 10th, who shocked Brazil to win 1-0 last weekend, in the last eight on Saturday.

The defeat means Holland miss out on a place at the 2016 Olympics as one of the top three teams in Europe but they could still qualify through a play-off.

"We're used to playing Australia," coach Norio Sasaki said ahead of what will be a rerun of the 2014 Asian Cup final which Japan won 1-0.

"But Australia now is a completely different team, they have improved a lot and are technically superior. Since I've taken over as coach we have never lost to Australia, but they have a great potential now and we need to be aware of that."

The Netherlands needed a win to book their ticket to the 2016 Olympics along with Germany and France but now face a play-off for the third remaining European berth.

"Our aim was to qualify for the Olympic Games but we didn't manage it, so naturally we're disappointed about that too," said Dutch coach Roger Reijners.

In other last-eight games, top-ranked Germany play third-ranked France in Montreal on Friday, while China face Olympic champions United States in Ottawa and hosts Canada clash with England in Vancouver on Saturday.