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| China held; DPR Korea, Japan lose |
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| Brazil goalkeeper Andreia fails to save a goal as DPR Korea's Ri Un-suk looks on. (AFP) |
BEIJING: Hosts China remained in contention for a berth in the next round following their 1-1 draw with Canada in the Olympic women’s football competition while DPR Korea and Japan lost their respective encounters on Saturday.
Brazil defeated Asian champions DPR Korea 2-1 while defending champions United States overcame Japan 1-0.
In Tianjin, both China and Canada missed chances to seal a victory that would have put them in prime position to make the knockout rounds.
Both Group E sides have four points from their two games, one clear of third-placed Sweden and four ahead of basement country Argentina.
Canadian captain Christine Sinclair made the breakthrough 11 minutes before half-time when Kara Lang neatly chested the ball down and lobbed it into her path, leaving the Vancouver Whitecap star to slot it past keeper Zhang Yanru.
Two minutes later Xu Yuan pulled China level, latching onto a through ball and rounding goalkeeper Erin McLeod. A lunging Randee Hermus hooked the ball off the line but it was adjudged to be a goal.
Errors by DPR Korea’s under-pressure goalkeeper Jon Myong-hui saw Brazil take a 2-0 lead in Shenyang. Jon failed to cleanly trap and clear a back pass and her miskick sent the ball straight to Brazilian midfielder Daniela who fired into an open goal in the 14th minute.
Eight minutes later Jon was involved in a mix-up at the back with Sonu Kyong-Sun, trying to reach a Cristiane back pass and the ever-present Marta was there to hammer home the second goal.
AFC Women’s Player of the Year Ri Kum-suk scored DPR Korea’s consolation goal three minutes from time.
In Qinhuangdao, a Carli Lloyd strike in the 27th minute helped United States beat Japan 1-0.
Lloyd make the breakthrough when she found herself unmarked on the edge of the box and launched a powerful drive into the top left-hand corner of the net.
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