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Germany top the group and send Japan packing

Defending champions Germany, with a goal from Birgit Prinz, beat Japan 2-0 yesterday to advance to the quarter-finals of the women's World Cup.

Germany dominated the game and opened the scoring when the ball fell to Prinz's feet off a corner kick in the first half. She quickly buried the ball into the top of the goal for her 13th goal in World Cup finals competition, a record.

Renate Lingor added a late penalty for Germany.

Germany, playing without midfielder Simone Laudehr who was suspended, could have scored more except for poor shooting and excellent goalkeeping by Miho Fukumoto.

Fukumoto robbed Petra Wimbersky in the fifth minute, tipping a shot over.

Fukumoto also needed to be sharp to turn away a shot from Fatmire Bajramaj midway through the second half.

Wimbersky missed an open goal with 15 minutes left.
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