VANCOUVER — The United States beat Nigeria 1-0 Tuesday to secure top place in their group at the Women's World Cup, while Australia and Cameroon got the results they needed to also secure automatic progression to the knockout stages. Australia draw 1-1 against Sweden to finish second behind the US in Group D and leave Sweden third, while Cameroon beat Switzerland 2-1 to take second ahead of the Swiss in Group C. In the day's other result, already-qualified Japan beat Ecuador 1-0 to complete the group stage with a perfect record of three wins. The best four of the six third-place teams will also progress to the last 16. Those placings will be finalized by Wednesday's remaining games in Groups E and F, but the Netherlands, with four points, and Switzerland, with three and a strong goal differential, are certain to be two of the four to advance. The United States needed a goal by veteran stiker Abby Wambach late in the first half to beat Nigeria 1-0. It was Wambach's 14th World Cup goal, putting her level with Germany's Birgit Prinz for second on the all-time list behind Brazil's Marta, who has 15. Australia knew a point against Sweden would be enough to reach the knockout stage, and secured its place with a 1-1 draw Lisa De Vanna put Australia up 1-0 in the fifth minute after a breakaway behind the Swedish defense. Sweden equalized in the 15th minute on a strike from just outside the penalty box by Sofia Jakobsson. Cameroon's Madeleine Ngono Mani came off the bench to score one of two second-half goals to beat Switzerland 2-1 and claim second place in Group C. Switzerland led 1-0 after Ana Maria Crnogorcevic's goal in the 24th minute, and it controlled the action for much of the half. However, Cameroon equalized on a powerful strike by Gabrielle Onguene in the 47th minute. Mani, who came off the bench in the 57th minute, followed with her 40th career goal five minutes later for the win. Japan's Yuki Ogimi scored in the fifth minute and that was enough for the defending champion to beat Ecuador 1-0. Serbia-Brazil U-20 final Ivan Saponjic banged in a header in extra time to give Serbia a 2-1 victory over Mali in the Under-20 World Cup Wednesday to set up a final against Brazil after Marcos Guilherme scored twice in its 5-0 demolition of 10-man Senegal. “We've had some good games and we've had some problems, but as a team we've grown through those difficult matches,” Brazil coach Rogerio Micale said. “Today everyone played perfectly.” — Agencies
