LONDON, July 29: Hosts Britain, reigning champions the United States and world champions Japan all sealed their places in the quarter-finals of the women’s football tournament on Saturday, with medal hopefuls Brazil and Sweden joining them.

North Korea had a chance to make the last-eight but lost it when they were crushed 5-0 by France at Hampden Park after conceding four goals in the last 20 minutes.

Japan’s 0-0 draw with Sweden in Coventry, combined with other results later in the day, meant both qualified from Group ‘F’, at worst as one of the two best third-placed teams in the three group competition.

In the second match in Coventry, Canada beat South Africa 3-0. Canada are third in Group ‘F’ with three points, one point behind both Japan and Sweden.

The top two teams in each group qualify, along with the best two third placed finishers.

Britain, competing for the first time, were too strong for African champions Cameroon and won 3-0 in Group ‘E’ in front of 31,000 fans at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, to follow up their historic first win against New Zealand on Wednesday.

The United States, bidding for a third successive gold, also won 3-0 against Colombia in Group ‘G’ in Glasgow while Brazil, bidding for a first Olympic football gold, beat New Zealand 1-0 at Cardiff in Group ‘E’ with another goal from Cristiane, whose overall tally of 12 is an Olympic scoring record.—Reuters