Winnipeg, Canada: Germany and Norway advanced with wins to the last 16 of the Fifa Women’s World Cup on Monday as a draw was enough to see hosts Canada and China through.
Favourites Germany beat Thailand 4-0 to progress as Group B leaders ahead of Norway, who secured their berth by beating Ivory Coast 3-1.
Canada were held 1-1 by the Netherlands, but it was enough to top Group A ahead of China, who were held 2-2 in their fiery do-or-die clash against New Zealand.
The four teams join champions Japan and Brazil, the 2007 runners-up, who are already through to the knockout rounds with a game to spare.
Germany came up against stiff resistance from the 29th-ranked Asians in Winnipeg before Melanie Leupolz broke through after 24 minutes.
And two quick-fire headers from second-half substitute Lena Petermann on 56 and 58 minutes got the world’s top-ranked team into their stride.
The damage could have been worse but for solid goalkeeping from Thailand’s Waraporn Boonsing before Sara Daebritz got a fourth for the 2003 and 2007 winners on 73 minutes.
“It wasn’t our best match but it gives us a bit more self-confidence,” said Germany’s Leupolz.
Germany have seven points from three games, equal with Norway, but ahead on goal difference largely thanks to their 10-0 hammering of Ivory Coast in their opener.
Thailand, in third with three points, could still advance as one of the four best third-place finishers, but fellow newcomers Ivory Coast head home after three loses with three goals scored to 16 conceded.
Germany next play the best third-placed finisher from Group A, C, or D in Ottawa on Saturday, as Norway play the second-placed finisher from Group F, which includes France, England, Colombia and Mexico, next Monday.
“We still have a chance to go through to the next round. We have some hope,” said Thailand coach Nuengruethai Sathongwien.
In Moncton, an Ada Hegerberg double on six and 62 minutes, and a third from Solveig Gulbrandsen on 67 gave 1995 winners Norway all three points against Ivory Coast.
Ange N’Guessan got one back for the 67th-ranked Ivory Coast after 71 minutes.
Canada were held 1-1 by the Netherlands in Montreal after Ashley Lawrence’s early goal was cancelled out by a Kirsten Van De Ven equaliser three minutes from time.
The hosts have five points from three games and as Group A winners next meet the best third-place finisher from Group C, D, or E in Vancouver on Sunday.
“This team needs to keep on a roll,” said Canada coach John Herdman.
“We wanted to win the group because we wanted to go back to BC [Vancouver] and give the fans what they’ve been waiting for.”
China battled to a 2-2 draw against New Zealand as tempers flared in Winnipeg Stadium.
Chinese coach Hao Wei was send to the stands late for hampering Ria Percival’s bid to take a quick throw-in and New Zealand boss Tony Readings refused to shake his hand after the game.
A point was good enough for the Chinese, runners-up in 1999, to advance but dumped New Zealand out of the tournament once again in the group stage.
Rebekah Stott scored first for New Zealand from a corner after 28 minutes, and four minutes before the break Wang Lisi equalised from the penalty spot.
China pulled ahead with 30 minutes left when Wang Shan-shan headed in. But the advantage lasted only four minutes when Hannah Wilkinson headed past Wang Fei.
