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Germany send South Africa home with table-topping win

Sara Daebritz (C) of Germany celebrates scoring
Sara Daebritz (C) of Germany celebrates scoring

Germany sealed top spot in Group B as they eased past South Africa with a 4-0 Women's World Cup victory in Montpellier on Monday.

Following narrow 1-0 results in their opening two matches against China and Spain, the reigning Olympic champions progressed to the last 16 in style, while their opponents were sent home after three defeats.

Melanie Leupolz put Germany in front after 14 minutes with a free header from close range in their final group match.

Leupolz's former Bayern Munich team-mate Sara Dabritz - who signed for Paris St Germain in May - doubled Germany's tally on the half-hour mark as she got on the scoresheet for the second successive game.

Germany left South Africa's slim chances of qualifying in tatters five minutes before the break as Wolfsburg striker Alexandra Popp headed in a third goal to make any chance of a comeback seem unlikely in the second half.

Lina Magull reacted fastest to slot home from close range for Germany's fourth just before the hour after Marina Hegering's header moments earlier rebounded off the post.

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