Defending champions Germany powered into the women's World Cup semi-finals yesterday with a 3-0 win over North Korea.
Kerstin Garefrekes pounced in the 44th minute and Renate Lingor and Annike Krahn hit the target in the second half to ensure Germany remain on track to be the only team to defend its title since the World Cup began 16 years ago.
It also kept intact their record of never having lost to an Asian team in World Cup history, having six wins out of six with 13 goals scored to none conceded.
PHOTO: AFP
Their victory sets up a semi-final against either host nation China or 1995 champions Norway in Tianjin on Wednesday.
"North Korea was one of our favorites for the title so to beat them gives us a lot of optimism moving forward," said German coach Silvia Neid, declining to say whether she would rather face China or Norway next.
"We were very good in defense but it was a good team performance. We didn't give them space in midfield, which was key to the game, and we scored goals at the right time," she said.
Germany went into the match at Wuhan Sports Center Stadium as clear favorites but wary of a North Korean side seen as the dark horses of the tournament after impressive form in the group games.
In a flowing first-half, Germany had the first chance in the seventh minute when Garefrekes sent a weak left-foot shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
A minute later Melanie Behringer let rip from long-range with her piledriver narrowly off target.
North Korea came close with 11 minutes on the clock as striker Kim Yong-ae broke free and toe-poked a shot under pressure. Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer half-saved but Ri Un-gyung was unable to take advantage of the loose ball.
Germany brought roars from the sparse crowd in the 28th minute when Behringer whipped over a cross from the left and Sandra Smisek's diving header flew into the side-netting.
Midfielder Garefrekes finally got what Germany deserved in the 44th minute when she picked up the ball on the edge of the area and curled a left-foot shot past the diving Jon Myong-hui.
North Korea came out fired up in the second period with most of the opening 20 minutes played in Germany's half.
Three Korean players failed to find the net in a goalmouth scramble in the 64th minute and they came close soon after when Angerer pulled off an acrobatic save.
But Neid's charges soaked up the pressure and against the run of play Germany made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Smisek played a delicate backheel into the path of Lingor, who made no mistake.
The Germans piled forward and Krahn put the game beyond doubt by scoring from a corner with 18 minutes left.
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