SHENYANG, Northeast--Germany snatched three points from African champions Nigeria in an Olympic women's soccer match here on Saturday.
German defender Kerstin Garefrekes opened the scoring in the 65th minute, when she speedily put into the Nigerian net a superb cross from Lilian Cole, who was sent on only a minute ago.
The goal smashed Nigerian confidence and Germany started to dominate the match. In the 76th minute, they created a melee in front of the Nigerian goal and five minutes later, a powerful left-footed shot was cleared by Nigerian goalie Precious Dede.
Annike Krahn (L) of Germany fights for the ball with Ifeanyi Chiejine of Nigeria during the women's first round Group F football match Nigeria vs Germany of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Shenyang Olympic Stadium on August 9, 2008. Germany beat Nigeria 1-0. [Agencies]
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"If I say I can still qualify, I think I am deceiving myself," said Joseph Ladipo, head coach of the team. "There is no way to get qualified because we lost so much. Whatever the result of the remaining match is, I am out."
"We played well against DPR Korea and due to bad luck we lost. Today we did better, yet we lost. I have no regret," the coach said.
German coach Silvia Neid said she is proud of the team. "We fought our way into the game. I have the feeling that if we can keep up the pace the other side will slow down," she told a post-match press conference.
Nigeria's best moment came in the 55th minute, when midfielder Sarah Michael had a chance to face German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer one-on-one, but the goalie palmed her shot out of the area and a follow-up shot by Perpetua Nkwocha was eventually saved by the 30-year-old goalkeeper.
"It was important to hold the ball when it is necessary," said Angerer, adding that to win the game is also very important.
Boasting two two-time African Women Player of the Year, Uwak Cynthia and Perpetua Nkwocha, the Super Falcons are the seven-time African champions. However, they have been unable to dominate beyond Africa in such arenas as the FIFA Women's World Cup or the Olympic Games.
After losing two games, their chance of qualifying for the next round looks dim.
"In the competitive tournament one team is bound to win the other is bound to lose. This time it's my turn to lose, I took this as good spirit of sportsmanship," said Ladipo.
The two teams were drawn in the undisputed "Group of Death". In the first matches, Nigeria lost 0-1 to DPR Korea, while the Germans had a scoreless draw with Brazil.
Germany will face Asian champions DPR Korea and Nigeria will take on Brazil in their last group-stage matches.
