World champions Germany beats Japan 2-0 to clinch the bronze medal at the Olympic women's soccer tournament on Thursday. [Xinhua]

Substitute Fatmire Bajramaj scored a brace to steer world champions Germany beat Japan 2-0 to clinch the bronze medal at the Olympic women's soccer tournament on Thursday.

Bajramaj opened the scoring in the 69th minute, when she smashed in a rebounder from zero-angle following Kerstin Garefrekes's header was blocked by keeper Miho Fukumoto.

The substitute midfielder then netted home with her right foot inside the box after Garefrekes rounded a defender before cutting a sharp cross from the right to be missed by Fukumoto.

Japan made fierce attacks from the beginning and took advantage over the World Cup champions in the first half. Striker Shinobu Ohno curved a nice shot from the edge of the box, which flew over the bar in the 13th meatinute.

Set-pieces specialist Aya Miyama and defender Kyoko Yano came close on 21 minutes with two powerful long-range shots, but were saved by a focused keeper Nadine Angerer. Playmaker Homare Sawa missed a volley inside the box one minute later.

Germany rallied after the break and pressured the Japanese with their speed and physical advantage. Garefrekes had a head over the bar on 78 minutes.

Japan's best second-half chance came in the 52nd minute, but Sawa's nice drive was blocked again by Angerer.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)