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Holders Germany reach last four

Germany 3-0 North Korea
FIFA Women's World Cup holders Germany continued to march on in their defence with a fine win in Wuhan.

FIFA Women's World Cup holders Germany continued to march on in their defence of the trophy by booking their place in the semi-finals with a 3-0 win against North Korea in Wuhan.

Garefrekes opener
Silvia Neid's side had to be patient with the opening goal not coming until the stroke of half time when Kerstin Garefrekes made the breakthrough before two goals in a five-minute spell midway through the second half from Renate Lingor and Annike Krahn confirmed the victory. North Korea matched their more fancied opponents for large periods of the game and has the first chance of the game when Kim Yong-Ae came close to diverting Linda Bresonick's clearance in. But Germany withstood the early pressure and took the lead moments before the interval when Garefrekes burst into the penalty area and curled a shot past goalkeeper Jon Myong-Hui.

Double strike
North Korea made a concerted effort to level matters after the break and seemed destined to draw level only for Germany to put the game out of reach in clinical fashion. Lingor exchanged passes with Sandra Smisek before unleashing a fine shot into the top corner on 67 minutes, and the semi-final berth was booked five minutes later when Krahn added a third following a Melanie Behringer corner. Germany will now play either Norway or hosts China, who meet on Sunday in Wuhan in their quarter-final, on Wednesday in Tianjin.