OLYMPICS /
Team China
China eliminated by Japan in women's soccer quarterfinals
Xinhua
Updated: 2008-08-15 23:33
China's players leave the pitch after their women's quarterfinal soccer match loss to Japan at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Qinhuangdao August 15, 2008. [Agencies]
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QINHUANGDAO -- Host China were eliminated by Japan 2-0 in a quarterfinal match at the Olympic women's soccer tournament here on Friday.
The Japanese opened the scoring 16 minutes into the match, when midfielder Homare Sawa outjumped defender Zhang Ying and headed Aya Miyama's corner cross into the net.
Chinese strengthened their attacks in the second half, and replaced Zhang Ying and Zhang Na by midfielders Wang Dandan and Lou Jiahui. However, they failed to make a difference on scoring although they brought more energy onto the pitch.
Yuki Nagasato added the second for Japan in the 79th, as she latched onto a loose ball after Shinobu Ohno and Chinese Pu Wei clashed together. Nagasato then rounded defender Zhou Gaoping and sent the ball into the open net.
Chinese's striker Han Duan could pull back one goal in the 85th minute, but her right-footed shot from inside of the penalty box was denied by Japanese goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto.
