Japan produces best goal so far at the World Cup

VANCOUVER – Japan's play so far at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup has been methodical and without much fanfare.

They reminded us Tuesday they can produce the kind of brilliance that most teams in the tournament can only dream of pulling off.

Mizuho Sakaguchi's goal in the 78th minute of Japan's 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the round of 16 at B.C. Place was as good a goal from the build-up to the finish as you're likely to see.

A back heel pass, followed by a pass to the top of the box that was dummied by Mana Iwabuch allowing Sakaguchi to smash the ball into the top left corner of the net.

''I went for a strike and I thought it was a long shot (in distance) and that's not my strength, but I thought I should try it,'' Sakaguchi said through a translator.

It's a good thing she did, because a flub by goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori gifted the Netherlands a goal in stoppage time and cut Japan's lead to one.

''I'm sorry we kept you in suspense until the very end,'' head coach Norio Sasaki said with a smile. ''I tried to have a one-sided, stable game but we always have these tense moments.''

Those tense moments are much easier to navigate when your team is capable of executing a stunning goal like we saw Tuesday.

Japan plays Australia in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Edmonton and are now two wins away from having the opportunity to defend their World Cup title on July 5 in Vancouver.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr