Three former champions of FIFA Women's World Cup - the United States, Norway, Germany - and the Athens Olympic runners-up Brazil advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament's fifth edition in 2007.
No surprise win or loss occured in the four eye-catching duels in two China's big cities Wuhan and Tianjin as the four stronger-looking teams beat their respective rivals in regular time.
According to the FIFA women's rankings in June, the United States settled first, followed by Germany second, Norway 4th, DPR Korea 5th, Brazil 8th, China 11th, England 12th and Australia 15th.
In the first quarter-final game, defending champions Germany roared into the semi-finals here on Saturday with a hard-fought 3-0 win over DPR Korea.
The stalwart Germans played all out to tame the World Cup dark horse, which also showed its amazing skills and strength despite conceding three goals.
German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer was named the Player of the Match, which showed how strong the DPR Korea's attacks were.
German coach Silvia Neid attributed the crucial victory to the solid defence, saying that the Germans left little space for the DPR Korea's strikers.
DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang Min admitted that Germany is stronger than his team in stamina and physiques in particular.
In the second quarter-final match in Tianjin on Saturday, twice champions the United States tasted a bitter sweet of going through from hell to heaven as they beat England 3-0 in the end.
U.S. coach Greg Ryan admitted that his players had been troubled by the English defense which made it impossible to even perform attacking efforts.
England coach Hope Powell for sure looked upset after being shown the door out by the defeat.
"We are facing the No. 1 in the world and they deserved to win this match," she added.
The third match between Norway and hosts China here on Sunday saw a fatal error committed by Chinese defender Wang Kun gift Norway a semi-final berth.
After boasting a 7-1 advantage in shot statistics in the first 30 miuntes, China conceded a goal in 32nd when Wang Kun lost concentration in the box, let the chasing Norwegian striker Isabell Herlovsen secure the ball from her control. Herlovsen shot the gift home without any hesitation.
Herlovsen said after the match, "It is a very fantastic game. Luck is on our side."
It was the only goal in the breath-taking and the eye-catching quarter-final between China, who stood 11th on FIFA women's ranking but set a target of entering top four on home soil, and Norway, the 1995 World Cup champions and 2000 Sydney Olympic champions who placed fourth on the rankings.
Norway coach Bjame Berntsen said, "The Chinese played all out and in extremely high spirit today. But we took a chance to win the match. This is something often taking place in crucial duel."
China coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors hailed the brilliant performance of her players, but said, "We lose in bad luck."
Bi Yan, the Chinese captain today, said, "This is the match in which we played the best in the World Cup."
In the last match in Tianjin on Sunday, with the dazzle steps of a pack of world class players led by FIFA's Player of the Year in 2006 Marta, Brazil have proved themselves too strong for Australia.
They played down the rivals' late comebacks and won 3-2 to eliminate the knockout-stage new-comers.
The semi-finals will be played on Wednesday in Tianjin where Germany meet Norway and on Thurday in Hangzhou where the United State face Brazil.
The final and the third-place playoff will be played in Shanghai.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article