question: Man of the moment Andy Murray needed less than an hour to book his place in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open in Tokyo Wednesday. The defending champion beat Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-1 6-2 in 57 minutes at the Ariake Coliseum to book a clash against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the last eight. It was the Scot's ninth win in a row after his U.S. Open triumph where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final in New York. Murray also won singles gold in the London Olympics, defeating Wawrinka on the way to his triumph at Wimbledon. The World No.3 was on control from the start against Lacko, breaking him twice on the way to taking the opening set and then continuing the good work in the second. "I began the match very well, which was nice because it was long day to get on," Murray told the official ATP Tour website. "I started the match almost perfect. That was important. Once I got the break in the second set, I started to play better." Murray holds a 7-4 winning career record against Wawrinka, who beat Jeremy Chardy of France 7-6 6-7 7-5 in a tight last 16 encounter. Meanwhile, top seed Djokovic eased through his second round match at the China Open in Beijing. Like Murray, the Serbian is playing in his first tournament since Flushing Meadows, and wasted little time in beating Argentina's Carlos Berlocq in straight sets. Djokovic, who struggled past Germany's Michael Berrer in the first round, broke his opponent six times on his way to a 6-1 6-3 victory in one hour and 14 minutes. In the accompanying WTA tournament at the same venue, Russia's Maria Sharapova began with a 6-2 6-2 win over Romania's Sorana Cirstea. But Serbian pair Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic were third round casualties, losing to Romina Oprandi and Carla Suarez-Navarro respectively.

answer: Andy Murray charges into quarterfinals of Japan Open. Defending champions needs less than an hour to beat Lukas Lacko. Novak Djokovic wins second round match at China Open. Marai Sharapova progresses in WTA tournament in Beijing.

Text: An injury-time penalty from Keisuke Honda fired Japan into the 2014 FIFA World Cup, making the Samurai Blue the first country to qualify for next year's tournament in Brazil. With Japan needing to avoid defeat in order to clinch one of the 32 places with a game to spare, playmaker Honda converted a late spot-kick to level the score at 1-1 after Australia had taken a surprise lead through Tommy Oar's speculative cross with eight minutes remaining. Tuesday's point means Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan are seven points clear at the top of Asian qualifying's Group B and assured of a place in a fifth consecutive World Cup. The top two teams from each of Asia's five-country groups advance, with both third-placed teams entering a playoff. Blog: Can Chelsea go "Back to the Future?" The winner of that two-legged tie plays the fifth-placed team from the South American section to decide who goes to the tournament. Brazil, as host nation, has does not need to qualify. Oman also enjoyed a fruitful Tuesday as they leaped from second bottom in Group B to second top after beating Iraq 1-0 in Muscat thanks to Ismail Al Ajmi's goal in first half stoppage time. The Omanis' nine points are now two better than both Australia and Jordan, but the latter pair have a match in hand. This will be played when the Socceroos, who have qualified for the last two World Cups, host Jordan in Melbourne next Tuesday. The result of that match will determine what each team needs to do in their final qualifier on June 18, when Group B concludes with Australia at home again, against Iraq, while Oman travel to Jordan. Japan's next commitment is the forthcoming Confederations Cup in Brazil, a warmup event for 2014's four-yearly showpiece. Zaccheroni's Asian champions play hosts Brazil in the competition's opening game on June 15. Elsewhere in Asia, former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been named head coach of Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R & F. The Swede, who has also coached Manchester City, Lazio, Roma and Ivory Coast during a 36-year managerial career, has left his post as technical director of United Arab Emirates club Al Nasr. "The club's board of directors has today officially hired Sven-Goran Eriksson as Guangzhou football coach until December 2014," read a statement from the club, which is 13th in the 16-team CSL. "Coach Li Bing will from today no longer serve as the acting head coach."
Highlights: Japan becomes the first country to qualify for 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Keisuke Honda's 91st-minute penalty secures a 1-1 draw with Australia. Japan will now head to Brazil for the forthcoming Confederations Cup. Sven-Goran Eriksson appointed head coach of Chinese club Guangzhou R & F.

question: An Oklahoma middle school teacher has been fired for taking nearly a dozen of her students on a snack run, with two of them locked in the trunk of her sedan. Heather Cagle, a veteran math teacher and yearbook instructor at Wells Middle School in Catoosa, was suspended in October after it was revealed that she had piled 11 children into her car to go to Wal-mart in the middle of the school day. At the time, Cagle said she was trying to do 'something sweet' for her yearbook students by getting them treats. Scroll down for video. Terminated: Heather Cagle, a veteran math teacher and yearbook instructor from Oklahoma, was fired Wednesday for taking 11 students off campus without permission in October to go on a snack run, with two of the kids riding in the trunk of her car. Veteran educator: Cagle, a married mother of one, was hired by the Catoosa School District in 2005. Cagle, a married mother of one, had been at the Catoosa school for a decade, reported Tulsa World. On October 21, Mrs Cagle invited 11 kids between the ages of 12 and 15 to go on a ride to a Wal-mart located in close proximity to the school to get some food. She placed two students in the front seat of her Honda Accord, crammed seven in the backseat and stuffed a pair of 12-year-old girls into the trunk, according to school district attorney Karen Long. The lawyer said Cagle was required to obtain signed permission from the students' parents before taking them out of school, which she had failed to do. About 50 fellow teachers, parents and former students turned up at the meeting Wednesday to support Cagle as she tearfully begged district officials for her job, telling them that she never meant to hurt anyone and vowing to never repeat her ‘terrible mistake.’ Following a six-hour hearing, the Catoosa School Board voted 4-1 to terminate Cagle's employment. 'Student safety and well-being are of paramount importance to the administration, and the administration respects and supports the board's decision, Catoosa Superintendent Rick Kibbe said in a statement. Tearful plea: During a hearing Wednesday, Cagle tearfully begged for her job, vowing never to repeat her 'terrible mistake' Blowing off steam: Cagle and her attorney said she was just trying to do something nice and 'fun' for her students. 'Catoosa Public Schools has and will continue to be a district which provides all students with a safe and appropriate learning environment.' Cagle's attorney, Richard O’Carroll, forcefully defended his client whom he called an 'exceptional teacher.' ‘There wasn't any danger and it was a farce. All you got to do is cry a lawsuit or something these days.’ O'Carroll told the station Fox23. ‘It wasn't the best judgement. She went 400 yards on an empty road through a parking lot. No one was hurt.’ The attorney representing the school said that the students suffered mental abuse, and that the teacher tried to cover up the sneaky snack run by telling the kids to keep it 'hush hush.’

answer:
Heather Cagle, 10-year math teacher at Wells Middle School in Catoosa, Oklahoma, has been terminated for violating district rules. Officials say in late October, Cagle piled 11 students between ages 12 and 15 into her Honda Accord, placing two 12-year-olds in the trunk. She drove the kids to nearby Wal-mart to get a snack because she wanted to do 'something sweet' for them.