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Kalou: Ivory Coast hero
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Nigeria, Holland, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Belgium all advanced to the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games as the group stages came to an end.
Group B was still wide open going into the final round of matches and it was Nigeria who clinched top spot with a 2-1 victory over USA.
USA had been in contention for a quarter-final place but they suffered an early setback when Michael Orozco was sent off in only the third minute.
Promise Isaac then fired Nigeria ahead in the 39th minute from Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi's pass and Victor Obinna made it 2-0 10 minutes from time.
Sacha Kljestan pulled one back for USA with two minutes remaining but they could not force an equaliser as Benny Feilhaber headed against the post with just seconds left.
Holland finished second behind Nigeria as they battled to a 1-0 win against Japan.
Gerald Sibon grabbed the crucial goal from the penalty spot on 74 minutes following a foul on Ryan Babel.
Holland will now face Group A winners Argentina in the last eight, while Nigeria will meet Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast made sure of their qualification with a 1-0 success against Australia.
Chelsea's Salomon Kalou squandered a number of chances but finally found the target on 81 minutes to leave Ivory Coast on six points.
Argentina rested a number of their star players but still made history with a ninth consecutive Olympic victory as they beat Serbia 2-0.
The decision to keep Lionel Messi in reserve did not prove popular with the Chinese crowd but Ezequiel Lavezzi impressed throughout and broke the deadlock with a penalty in the 12th minute following a trip on Angel de Maria.
Argentina doubled their advantage after 72 minutes when a Diego Buonanotte free-kick went over the wall and curled past a diving Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Cameroon held Group D winners Italy to a goalless draw to advance to the next round of the competition.
The African side only needed a point but they were made to work after being reduced to 10 men on 58 minutes following Georges Mandjeck's dismissal.
South Korea came third despite defeating Honduras 1-0 in their final group game.
Defender Kim Dong-jin netted the goal for South Korea, who dominated the match and carved out several more opportunities.
Brazil kept up their stunning form with a 3-0 win against hosts China in Group C.
Thiago Neves scored two goals and Diego the other as the highly-fancied South Americans ended with a perfect nine points.
Faris Haroun was the hero for Belgium as they secured second place with a 1-0 victory over New Zealand.
Haroun headed home the decisive goal after 35 minutes and New Zealand then had to play out almost all of the second half with 10 men after striker Daniel Ellensohn was sent off.
Belgium will play Italy in the quarter-finals, while Cameroon await Brazil.
