PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Germany labored to beat defending champions Canada 4-2 on penalties after both sides fought to a scoreless draw in the regular and extra time of a women's soccer quarterfinal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger converted her side's last kick after saving two from Canada in the penalty shootout.
In the semifinal, Germany will take on the United States, a side they lost to 4-1 in the group stage.
The United States beat Japan 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Trinity Rodman.
Japan managed well defensively until the end of the first half of the extra time when Rodman scored a stunning goal.
The striker collected a diagonal pass from Crystal Dunn on the right side of the area, shimmied to her left to wrong-foot Japanese defender Hikaru Hitagawa before unleashing a powerful angled left-foot shot into the left top corner of the Japanese goal.
The United States, which enjoyed 71 percent ball possession, made four shots on goal against Japan's one throughout the match.
Spain also reached the semifinals after they came back from the brink of exit to beat Colombia on penalties.
The World Cup title holders scored two second-half goals, including one deep into the injury time, to hold Colombia to 2-2 in the regular time.
Both teams failed to score in the extra time, taking the game into penalty shootout, where Spain held their nerve to overwhelm their South American opponents 4-2.
Spain will face the winners between France and Brazil in the final four. ■
