Japan have boosted their chances of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the second successive time as they beat an ill-disciplined Samoa 28-22 in Toulouse, a result which sent England through to the last eight.
Both teams came into the match with one win from two games and the early exchanges were even until Japan struck through Pieter Labuschagne in the 14th minute.
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Michael Leitch and Kazuki Himeno added further tries, and 13 points from the boot of five-eighth Rikiya Matsuda gave the Brave Blossoms enough breathing space to hold off a late fightback from 14-man Samoa.
The Samoans had a try on the board from Seilala Lam before winger Ben Lam was sent from the field in the 47th minute.
They scored two more - from Duncan Paia'aua and former Wallaby Christian Leali'ifano - in the final quarter but it was not enough to overhaul Japan.
"It's a big win, that was a really tough game," Japan's New Zealand-born coach Jamie Joseph said.
"We had to work bloody hard to get the win, I take my hat off to the Samoan boys, they really took it to us."
Japan moved out of a tie with Samoa into second place in the pool on nine points with a winner-takes-all showdown against Argentina looming next week if the Pumas, as expected, beat Chile on Saturday.
"That's our grand final, isn't it," Joseph said.
"We have got an opportunity to play a tier one team we have played a few times before.
"All the guys are going to be really excited for that - it is a big game for us."
Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua said the red card had proved decisive as his team's hopes of progressing were reduced to the mathematical.
"Really proud of the guys with the effort they put into the game, I couldn't have asked for more," he said.
"But it's tough playing a game against 15 men and to be down a man down."The result also confirmed unbeaten England as pool winners.
They will finish their pool-stage matches when they take on Samoa on October 8, and will face the runners-up in Australia's Pool C in the quarter-finals on October 15.
