OTTAWA: Germany and China booked the first two spots in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup on Saturday as they brushed aside rivals Sweden and Cameroon.

Germany demolished Sweden 4-1 in Ottawa, while China won 1-0 in Edmonton to send the last African challenger Cameroon home. Forwards Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag both scored their fifth goals of the tournament, with Sasic netting a double, as the top-ranked Germans closed down their fifth-ranked European rivals in scorching conditions at Lansdowne Stadium. Germany coach Silvia Neid described the victory as “a very important game, maybe a key match” in the tournament.

Germany next play either France or South Korea for a place in the semi-finals. While Wang Shanshan’s first half goal was enough for China to set up a meeting with either the United States or Colombia.

China coach Hao Wei had a touchline ban and was forced to watch the game from the stands in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. However, his side closed down the game early when Wang Shanshan got the opener after 12 minutes when she picked up pass from Li Dongna who did well to control a Wang Lisi corner.

The defence of the 16th-ranked Chinese was rock solid allowing few chances for 53rd-ranked Cameroon’s energetic forwards. Wang scored her second goal of the tournament it was impossible for Cameroon to get through. Despite a spirited challenge by the African side, the 16th-ranked Chinese held on to make it through to the last eight for the sixth time.

Germany on their way in the 24th minute with a solo run following a poor pass in the Swedish defence for her fifth goal in four matches. And 12 minutes later Sasic got her first when she slotted in a contentious penalty awarded for a foul on Mittag inside the box by her former FC Rosengard teammate Amanda Ilestedt.

Sofia Jakobsson nearly pulled one back for the Swedes seconds before half-time but could not manage to keep her header down. Sasic grabbed her second on 78 minutes when her diving header gave her a fifth goal of the tournament after Simone Laudehr’s effort had come back off the post.