World champions Germany make heavy weather of bronze

August 21, 2008

BEIJING, (AFP) – Germany won their third consecutive Olympics bronze medal but made heavy weather of it against never-say-die Japan with a hard-fought 2-0 victory in the womens football playoff at the Workers’ Stadium on Thursday.

The world champions had endured an exasperating night in the drizzling rain as their attacks constantly broke down through poor last passes and sloppy ball control before the winning goal.

Fatmire proved the winning substitution coming on in the 60th minute and scoring twice late in the game to give the Germans third place in the tournament.

Bajramaj broke the deadlock nine minutes after coming on after Kerstin Garefrekes’ header was partially blocked by Japanese goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto.

Bajramaj hooked in the rebound from a tight angle to finally crack the Japanese resistance.

And she was again on the spot when she fired home from close range with three minutes left to clinch victory.

Germany have won bronze in their last two Games — they defeated Sweden in Athens in the third-place play-off and Brazil in Sydney in 2000.

The Germans missed their chance to play in the Beijing final when they were hammered 4-1 by Brazil in Tuesday’s semi-final in Shanghai.

Germany played well below their world champion status in a mistake-riddled opening half as the smaller Japanese players had the better scoring chances.

Striker Shinobu Ohno went close in the 13th minute before Japan were thwarted with three chances in as many minutes midway through the half.

Ava Miyama brought a flying one-handed diving save from German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer before the goalie was forced to tip a sizzling drive from Yukari Kinga over the bar less than a minute later.

Japan had another chance cleared off the line as the Germans lived dangerously.

Towards the end of the half the bigger Germans were getting more possession and territory as the Japanese defenders pluckily kept them out until the halftime whistle.

Writtend By :AFP

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