Germany, China go through to Women's World Cup knockout stage
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) -- Lena Petermann scored twice in three minutes and top-ranked Germany trounced Thailand 4-0 Monday to advance to the round of 16 in the Women's World Cup.
Melanie Leupolz put Germany ahead 1-0 in the 24th minute by heading in a corner kick.
The 29th-ranked Thai hung within a goal behind a brilliant performance from keeper Waraporn Boonsing. But the Germans finally made it 2-0 on Petermann's header in the 56th minute - a feat she repeated two minutes later.
Sara Daebritz later closed the scoring by tapping the ball into an open net.
Germany finished atop its group with a goal differential of plus-14.
CHINA THROUGH AS RUNNER-UP
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) -- Wang Shanshan scored on a perfectly timed header and China benefited from a questionable called penalty to earn a 2-2 draw in the Women's World Cup against New Zealand on Monday.
With the draw, China advances to the knockout stage as the second team from Group A.
New Zealand (0-2-1) went up 1-0 on a goal by Rebekah Ashley Stott in the 28th minute, but China tied the game on a penalty kick by Wang Lisi. The penalty came after New Zealand's Betsy Hassett was called for a hand ball in the penalty box, though replays showed the ball hit her chest and head.
China (1-1-1) went ahead 2-1 on Shanshan's goal in the 60th minute, with New Zealand tying the game five minutes later on a goal by Hannah Wilkinson.
