Chinese player Li Jie scrambles for the ball with a Japanese player.

Host China were eliminated by Japan 2-0 in a quarterfinal match at the Olympic women's soccer tournament in Qinhuangdao, east China, on Friday.

The Japanese opened the scoring 16 minutes into the match, when midfielder Homare Sawa outjumped defender Zhang Ying and headed Aya Miyama's corner cross into the net.

Chinese strengthened their attacks in the second half, and replaced Zhang Ying and Zhang Na by midfielders Wang Dandan and Lou Jiahui. However, they failed to make a difference on scoring although they brought more energy onto the pitch.

Yuki Nagasato added the second for Japan in the 79th, as she latched onto a loose ball after Shinobu Ohno and Chinese Pu Wei clashed together. Nagasato then rounded defender Zhou Gaoping and sent the ball into the open net.

Chinese's striker Han Duan could pull back one goal in the 85th minute, but her right-footed shot from inside of the penalty box was denied by Japanese goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15,2008)