Germany Beats Japan For Bronze in Womens Soccer

August 21, 2008   •   Olympic Women's Soccer, Results

BEIJING (AP) — Substitute midfielder Fatmire Bajramaj scored a pair of second-half goals Thursday to help world champion Germany beat Japan 2-0 and win its third straight Olympic bronze in women’s soccer.

Bajramaj opened the scoring off a rebound in the 69th minute, firing a left-footer into the top of the net after Japan goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto partially stopped a header by midfielder Kerstin Garefrekes. Bajramaj, who entered the match in the 59th, added her second goal with a low right-footer from close range in the 87th.

Germany, which won the last two World Cups, had already won the bronze at the 2004 Athens Games and the 2000 Sydney Games.

The fourth-place finish marked Japan’s ideal performance in women’s soccer in the Olympics. It was coming off a quarterfinal appearance in Athens.

Tags: Olympic soccer, Olympic games, Beijing Olympic Games, olympics soccer