BEIJING, Aug 12: Defending champions United States produced a timely return to form and Norway suffered a shock loss as the Olympic women’s quarter final line-up was decided on Tuesday.

Co-tournament favourites Germany and Brazil along with hosts China were the only teams to go through Group action unbeaten.

Norway’s 5-1 thrashing by Japan destined them to meet Brazil in the quarter-finals while Japan will play China.

In the two other-quarter finals on Friday, the US meet Canada and Germany play Sweden.

Germany, harshly drawn in Pool ‘F’ with Brazil where they drew their opener, appeared headed for another draw in their final pool match against North Korea until Anja Mittag scored four minutes from time.

Birgit Prinz muscled her way past two defenders and fired a powerful drive which keeper Jon Myong Hui could only parry into the path of Mittag, who made no mistake.

Despite the Germany fielding a vastly experienced side packed with World Cup stars, the pacy Koreans, who won the Asian Cup ahead of the Olympics, were the better side.

A brilliant first-half hat-trick by Cristiane saw 2004 silver medallists Brazil book their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Nigeria.

The 23-year-old struck her triple in a 15-minute purple patch after Nigeria had opened the scoring from the penalty spot through Perpetua Nkwocha in the 19th minute.

The remarkable Cristiane then came into her own, heading in her first goal, scoring the second with a stunning overhead shot which looped over a stranded Nigerian keeper Precious Dede and then slammed in the third unmarked.

The United States, faced with a must-win game against New Zealand in Pool ‘G’, showed they meant business from the start when Heather O’Reilly scored in the opening minute, running through a startled New Zealand defence.Rather than play out the game defending the lead, the United States chose to attack, keeping the US-born New Zealand goalkeeper Jenny Bindon under constant pressure.

Striker Amy Rodriguez scored their second just before half-time while Lindsay Tarpley and Angela Hucles added two more four minutes apart in the second half.

Norway started strongly against Japan and were up 1-0 inside half an hour before they lost direction as Yukari Kinga, Shinobu Ohno, Homare Sawa and Ayumi Hara scored for Japan and Gunhild Foelstad had the misfortune to score an own goal.

China emerged at the head of Pool ‘E’ with a 2-0 win over Argentina coming from a Maria Quinones own goal and a Gu Yasha volley.

Sweden beat Canada 2-1 in the other match but with both sides qualifying in the 12-team tournament.—AFP