Prinz sets record as Germany downs Japan

Soccer Betting Lines

09/17/2007 - Hangzhou, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Birgit Prinz became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, scoring her 13th goal as Germany defeated Japan, 2-0, on Monday to wrap up the top spot in Group A.

Prinz's goal was her fourth of this year's tournament and Renate Lingor added her third goal in the closing minutes for Germany.

Germany (2-0-1) finished the group stage unbeaten, outscoring its opponents, 13-0. The defending champions play the second-place team from Group B, likely the United States or North Korea, on Saturday.

Prinz, a three-time FIFA Player of the Year, has scored in all four World Cups she's played in (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007). She was tied with the United States' Michelle Akers for the all-time lead. Akers scored 12 goals in three events, including 10 in 1991.

Japan (1-1-1) had a chance to advance with a win or tie against Germany, but was eliminated with the loss and England's 6-1 win over Argentina.

Germany controlled the pace of the game from the start as Petra Wimbersky had two great scoring opportunities in the first 20 minutes, but couldn't finish a pair of one-on-one chances.

Wimbersky was alone in the box for the first time in the fourth minute, but her hard blast was knocked over the bar by Japan goalie Miho Fukumoto. She was alone in the box again in the 20th minute, but again tried to shoot high and had her shot turned away by Fukumoto.

Although Wimbersky failed to finish either chance, a corner off the second miss led to Prinz's record-setting goal.

Lingor swung the corner into the box and it sailed over traffic to Prinz at the far post. Prinz touched the ball down and, from just a few yards, unleashed a shot that skimmed off the head of Japan's Tomoe Sakai and into the roof of the net.

Prinz had a couple more opportunities in the half, shooting wide in the 33rd and having a shot saved by Fukumoto in the 46th minute.

Germany's Sandra Smisek, who had three goals in an 11-0 win over Argentina, hit the frame late in the first half.

Japan was more aggressive after the restart, creating one of its few scoring chances four minutes into the second half off a header. Although Japan was more dangerous, it could never connect enough passes to get any good chances on goal.

Fukumoto came up big for Japan again in the 67th minute when she made a nice save to deny Fatmire Bajramaj on a breakaway.

Germany threatened again in the 76th minute when Prinz found Smisek on the left wing and she crossed to the middle of the box. Wimbersky got under a shot, putting the ball high.

Prinz misfired on another chance in the 79th minute, heading a ball wide of the left post.

Germany finally put the game away in the 87th minute when Lingor converted a penalty kick for her third goal of the tournament.Wimbersky helped set up the chance by passing to Martina Mueller, who was taken down in the box.

Lingor scored easily by getting Fukumoto to dive to the left post and she scored to the left side of the net.

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Work left to do: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

Texas joins Texas A&M and Kansas as locks after getting league win No. 11. Texas Tech greatly helped its own hopes and crippled OK State's with the two-point win Saturday. Is K-State the last reasonable hopeful? Could be an elimination match in Stillwater on Tuesday, at least for the Cowboys.

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Texas Tech [18-11 (7-7), RPI: 44, SOS: 12] A critical two-point win over OK State leaves the Red Raiders with Baylor and at Iowa State left. Get both and the Red Raiders likely are good to go. Get one and there could be some interesting comparisons with a K-State team that could finish two or three games "ahead" of them in the standings but doesn't have any of the quality wins Texas Tech has. Not a lot in nonconference play (against Arkansas in Little Rock being the best win, by far) to lean on.

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