Defending Olympic champions USA qualified for the quarter-finals of the women's football on Tuesday night.
Great Britain defeat Brazil; Canada next up for Team GB
Defending Olympic champions USA, France, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand and Japan all qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2012 Games on a night when Great Britain famously defeated Brazil.
Abby Wambach maintained the
United States' 100% record in this year's tournament with the defining moment of their narrow 1-0 victory over
North Korea.
Wambach scored her 141st goal in her 185th appearance for her country in front of a 29,522 crowd at Old Trafford.
It was enough to guarantee the United States top spot in Group G, and a quarter-final clash with New Zealand at Newcastle's St James' Park on Friday.
New Zealand themselves reached the quarter-finals after overcoming bottom-placed
Cameroon 3-1 in a Group E clash at the City of Coventry Stadium.
The Kiwis qualified, despite losing their opening two games to Brazil and Great Britain, as one of the two best third-placed sides along with Canada.
Success meant North Korea were eliminated after their defeat against the United States.
Rebecca Smith, an own goal from Augustine Ejangue and Sarah Gregorious wrapped up the win as Cameroon only had Gabrielle Onguene's consolation to cheer.
Elodie Thomis fired
France into a knockout showdown with Sweden after a 1-0 win over
Colombia.
The Lyon winger's early strike was enough to claim the points, although a resilient display by goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda and a second-half Colombian fightback ensured the result remained in doubt until the final whistle.
Striker Melissa Tancredi claimed a double as
Canada came from behind to snatch a precious 2-2 Group F draw with
Sweden.
John Herdman's side trailed by two goals from Marie Hammarstrom and Sofia Jakobsson as the Swedes got off to a flying start.
But Tancredi reduced the deficit before the break and later claimed an equaliser to ensure that both teams go through, with Canada next up for Team GB.
Hope Powell's
Great Britain had already booked their place in the knockout stages after wins over New Zealand and Cameroon.
But a famous 1-0 victory over
Brazil courtesy of Steph Houghton's early goal at Wembley meant they topped Group E.
South Africa battled their way to a first point while world champions
Japan advanced to the quarter-finals and a showdown with strongly-tipped Brazil as Group F runners-up following a 0-0 draw at the Millennium Stadium.
