SHENYANG // The defender Kerstin Stegemann scored a second half winner as world champions Germany earned a 1-0 win over Nigeria in the women's Olympic football tournament. Stegemann netted the winning goal from close range after a well-timed cross by the substitute striker Anja Mittag. Stegemann sneaked behind the Nigerian defenders at the far post, sending the ball into the top of the net. Germany got the win despite struggling throughout today's match at Shenyang Olympic Stadium. Nigeria had the better scoring opportunities and the German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer had to make several saves to extend Germany's record of no goals conceded in major tournaments to eight matches. Nigeria are now eliminated from the competition.
Nilla Fischer capitalised on one of Sweden's numerous scoring opportunities early in the second half to give the Scandinavians a 1-0 victory over Argentina and revive their Olympic hopes. Fischer knocked in a looping header on 57 minutes, enabling Sweden to recover from their opening 2-1 loss to China on Wednesday. That had been Sweden's fourth straight defeat in an Olympic opener. The loss makes Argentina's chances of progressing to the knockout stages slim.
The midfielder Carli Lloyd scored a first half volley to lead the US women's football team to a 1-0 win over Japan and put the Americans' Olympic title defence back on track. The USA still looked far from gold-medal form, but did enough against a dangerous attacking Japan side to pick up a much-needed three points in Group G.