Japan has used Bayern Munich's Mana Iwabuchi in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup mostly as a late game substitution. Her job is to come onto the field and use her immense technical abilities to change the game to Japan's favor.
Saturday, in their quarterfinal matchup with Australia, Iwabuchi certainly changed the game.
After coming into the match as a sub in the 72nd minute, Iwabuchi latched onto a loose ball in the box in the 87th minute and smashed home the winning goal. It was her first goal of the tournament, and the sixth scored by a FC Bayern player in the tournament.
Japan will face England in the semifinals, after the English eliminated hosts Canada in the other quarterfinal match of the day. England is clearly the weakest team remaining in the World Cup, and it would be expect that Japan will find themselves in the Final against the winner of Germany and the United States
Australia 0 - 1 Japan
Goals
Australia: None
Japan: Mana Iwabuchi (87)
Lineups
Australia: Lydia Williams; Stephanie Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Laura Alleway, Caitlin Foord; Katrina Gorry (Michelle Heyman 76), Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond; Lisa De Vanna (Larissa Crummer 67), Kyah Simon (Ashleigh Sykes 89), Samantha Kerr
Japan: Ayumi Kaihori; Aya Sameshima, Saki Kumagai, Azusa Iwashimizu, Saori Ariyoshi; Mizuho Sakaguchi (Homare Sawa 90), Rumi Utsugi; Nahomi Kawasumi, Aya Miyama; Shinobu Ohno (Mana Iwabuchi 72), Yuki Ogimi