Berlin - The United States and Sweden booked their places in the quarter-finals of the women's World Cup Saturday with respective wins over Colombia and North Korea.
A stunning strike from Heather O'Reilly followed by second-half goals from substitute Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd secured a 3-0 victory for the US over the South Americans while Sweden needed a second-half goal from Lisa Dahlkvist to overcome North Korea 1-0.
The wins see both teams tied at the top of Group C with a maximum six points from two matches and already guaranteed a place in the last eight ahead of their final group match against each other in Wolfsburg on Wednesday.
The US, winners of the tournament in 1991 and 1999, showed they are a force to be reckoned with in Germany this year with a dominant performance against World Cup debutants Colombia in Sinsheim.
The Americans missed several early chances before deservedly going in front in the 12th minute through O'Reilly, who fired home an unstoppable strike from outside the area.
O'Reilly should have netted her second goal of the game 10 minutes later but Colombia goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda saved well.
US coach Pia Sundhage brought in Rapinoe for Amy Rodriguez at half-time and the decision paid dividends as the midfielder made it 2-0 five minutes after the restart.
Lloyd made it 3-0 in the 57th minute when Sepulveda failed to hold her long-range shot. Rapinoe and Abby Wambach both hit the woodwork as the Americans continued to boss proceedings but the Colombians somehow kept the deficit to three goals.
Sweden found the going much tougher in the day's earlier game as a defensively-minded North Korea frustrated the Scandinavians for long periods.
Having only prevailed by a single goal margin against North Korea in their last two encounters at a women's World Cup, Sweden knew this clash was likely to be a tight affair against the Asians.
Sweden dominated possession throughout without creating much, with the only notable chance of a drab first half in the Impuls Arena in Augsburg falling to Lotta Schelin in the 29th minute, but the Swedish striker sent her shot into the side netting.
Thomas Ennerby's side eventually broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when a Linda Forsberg cross was sent back across the area by Therese Sjogran for Dahlkvist to finish from close range.
The women's World Cup continues Sunday when Brazil face Norway in Wolfsburg and Australia take on Equatorial Guinea in Bochum in Group D matches.
DPA
A stunning strike from Heather O'Reilly followed by second-half goals from substitute Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd secured a 3-0 victory for the US over the South Americans while Sweden needed a second-half goal from Lisa Dahlkvist to overcome North Korea 1-0.
The wins see both teams tied at the top of Group C with a maximum six points from two matches and already guaranteed a place in the last eight ahead of their final group match against each other in Wolfsburg on Wednesday.
The US, winners of the tournament in 1991 and 1999, showed they are a force to be reckoned with in Germany this year with a dominant performance against World Cup debutants Colombia in Sinsheim.
The Americans missed several early chances before deservedly going in front in the 12th minute through O'Reilly, who fired home an unstoppable strike from outside the area.
O'Reilly should have netted her second goal of the game 10 minutes later but Colombia goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda saved well.
US coach Pia Sundhage brought in Rapinoe for Amy Rodriguez at half-time and the decision paid dividends as the midfielder made it 2-0 five minutes after the restart.
Lloyd made it 3-0 in the 57th minute when Sepulveda failed to hold her long-range shot. Rapinoe and Abby Wambach both hit the woodwork as the Americans continued to boss proceedings but the Colombians somehow kept the deficit to three goals.
Sweden found the going much tougher in the day's earlier game as a defensively-minded North Korea frustrated the Scandinavians for long periods.
Having only prevailed by a single goal margin against North Korea in their last two encounters at a women's World Cup, Sweden knew this clash was likely to be a tight affair against the Asians.
Sweden dominated possession throughout without creating much, with the only notable chance of a drab first half in the Impuls Arena in Augsburg falling to Lotta Schelin in the 29th minute, but the Swedish striker sent her shot into the side netting.
Thomas Ennerby's side eventually broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when a Linda Forsberg cross was sent back across the area by Therese Sjogran for Dahlkvist to finish from close range.
The women's World Cup continues Sunday when Brazil face Norway in Wolfsburg and Australia take on Equatorial Guinea in Bochum in Group D matches.
DPA
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