Substitute forward Anja Mittag's late goal gifted World Cup champions Germany a 1-0 win over Asian champions DPR Korea and a quarterfinal berth at the Olympic women's soccer tournament in Tianjin, north China on Tuesday.

Germany placed second of Group F, the Group of Death also including World Cup runners-up Brazil and African champions Nigeria, while DPR Korea have to wait for the results coming from the other two groups' matches this evening. The best two third-place teams will also advance to quarterfinals.

Brazil topped Group F after beating Nigeria 3-1 this afternoon.

American substitute forward Anja Mittag scored the only goal in the 86th minute when she steered the bounced ball into the empty net after ace forward Birgit Prinz's close-range shot was stopped by goalkeeper Jon Myong Hui in a counterattack.

Before this match, the Germans drew 0-0 with World Cup runners-up Brazil and edged African champions Nigeria 1-0 in their first two matches while DPR Korea edged Nigeria 1-0 and lost 2-1 to Brazil.

After a fairly even start, DPR Korea got their first free kick in the 10th minute and defender Kim Kyong Hwa's powerful shot was pushed away by goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.

The Germans responded in the 26th minute when Prinz's close-range shot was stopped by goalkeeper Jon Myong Hui.

Germany had a good chance just before the end of the first half when defender Simone Laudehr's header from a free-kick was blocked by the crossbar after being tipped by Jon with an excellent save.

In the 54th minute, DPR Korea's captain Ri Kum Suk headed wide from a left free-kick.

Germany has never won an Olympic gold medal in women's soccer. They won the bronze twice, at the 2000 Sydney Games and 2004 Athens Olympics.

In addition to winning the last two World Cups, Germany is the defending European champion. The Germans did not allow a goal in six matches on its way to winning the FIFA World Cup in 2007.

In June, DPR Korea has just recaptured the Asian Cup title they lost to China four year ago. They also jumped into the quarterfinals of last year's FIFA World Cup in China.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12,2008)