Argentina got the job done but were made to work hard for their 39-27 bonus-point victory over Japan in their Rugby World Cup encounter in Nantes on Sunday.
The result was a momentous one as it means Los Pumas advance to the global showpiece's quarter-finals as the runners-up in Pool D ― behind table-toppers England ― while the Brave Blossoms' campaign has come to an end after finishing third in the group.
In a fast-paced and highly entertaining game, Argentina were full value for their win as they outscored Japan by five tries to three with Mateo Carreras leading the way for Los Pumas with a well-taken hat-trick.
Santiago Chocobares and Emiliano Boffelli scored the South Americans' other tries and Boffelli finished with a 14-point haul after slotting three conversions and a penalty, while Nicolas Sanchez also succeeded with a conversion and a penalty.
For Japan, Amato Fakatava, Naoto Saito and Jone Naikabula crossed the whitewash while Rikiya Matsuda added three conversions and a penalty, and Lomano Lomeki slotted a drop goal.
With both sides knowing victory would see them advance to a quarter-final against Wales at the other's expense, Los Pumas sealed the spot with Carreras the star man.
A fast start by Michael Cheika's side saw Chocobares burst through a crowd of players to cross in the second minute, with Boffelli successfully converting.
Jamie Joseph's Japan hit back in the 16th minute when Fakatava chipped over a defender, reclaimed the ball and touched down, and Matsuda kicked the extras, before the Brave Blossoms were reduced to 14 men by a yellow card for Lappies Labuschagne.
Carerras then registered his first try to put Argentina back in front in the 28th minute and a subsequent penalty from Boffelli ― who had missed one earlier, along with his second conversion attempt ― made it 15-7.
Japan again rallied, with Saito crossing and Matsuda converting to leave a point in it heading into the interval.
🇦🇷 LOS PUMAS QUALIFY FOR THE QUARTER-FINALS WITH A BREATHLESS WIN OVER JAPAN. #JPNvARG #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/e3kn7teSzK
― Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) October 8, 2023
Carreras registered his second try, converted by Boffelli, early in the second half, before a Matsuda penalty and Lemeki's drop goal closed the gap to two points at 22-20.
Argentina then wrapped things up as Boffelli scored a try and converted, and Carreras subsequently completed his treble, with Sanchez kicking that conversion and a further penalty with five minutes left.
They will now take on Wales in Marseille on Saturday.
The teams
Japan: 15 Lomano Lemeki, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Siosaia Fifita, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Kazuki Himeno (c), 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Amato Fakatava, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Jiwon Gu, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Warner Dearns, 20 Amanaki Saumaki, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Ryohei Yamanaka, 23 Jone Naikabula
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Matías Moroni
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
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