Soc: Brazil, US and China through to women's quarter-finals

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2008
Soc: Brazil, US and China through to women's quarter-finals

BEIJING, Aug 12 DPA - Favourites Brazil, reigning Olympic champions the United States
and hosts China all reached the women's soccer quarter-finals as group winners today.

Success in the last round of matches means the big guns will avoid each other in Friday's
last eight group matches.

Brazil beat Nigeria 3-1 courtesy of a Cristiane hat-trick to top Group F and will now
meet Norway who qualified second in group G despite being thrashed 5-1 by Japan.

China beat Argentina 2-0 in their final Group E game. Argentina's Maria Quinones put
through her own net to open the scoring and Gu Yasha settled it with the second on 90
minutes.

The hosts now face Japan who qualified as one of the best third-placed teams courtesy
of their high-scoring win over Norway.

Current Olympic champions USA will face Canada after beating New Zealand 4-0 thanks
to goals from Heather O'Reilly, Amy Rodriguez, Lindsay Tarple and Angela Hucles.

Germany also gained their place in the quarter-finals with a nervous 1-0 victory over
North Korea.

Anja Mittag scored the vital 86th minute goal and they will now face Sweden who beat
Canada 2-1 thanks to a Lotta Schelen double.

A relieved German coach Silvia Neid said: "North Korea were unbelievably well organised
so we are delighted to come through the group."

DPA jds

KEYWORD: OLY08 SOCW NIGHTLEAD

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