Germany won their third consecutive Olympics bronze medal but made heavy weather of it against never-say-die Japan with a hard-fought 2-0 victory in the womens football playoff at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing on Thursday.
Fatmire Bajramaj proved the winning substitution coming on in the 60th minute and scoring twice late in the game to give the Germans third place in the tournament.
Bajramaj broke the deadlock nine minutes after coming on after Kerstin Garefrekes' header was partially blocked by Japanese goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto. Bajramaj hooked in the rebound from a tight angle to finally crack the Japanese resistance.
And she was again on the spot when she fired home from close range with three minutes left to clinch victory. Germany have won bronze in their last two Games - they defeated Sweden in Athens in the third-place play-off and Brazil in Sydney in 2000.
The Germans missed their chance to play in the Beijing final when they were beaten 4-1 by Brazil in Tuesday's semi-final in Shanghai.
Germany – Japan, Beijing, August 21, 2008
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Germany won their third consecutive Olympics bronze medal but made heavy weather of it against never-say-die Japan with a hard-fought 2-0 victory in the womens football playoff at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing on Thursday.
Fatmire Bajramaj proved the winning substitution coming on in the 60th minute and scoring twice late in the game to give the Germans third place in the tournament.
Bajramaj broke the deadlock nine minutes after coming on after Kerstin Garefrekes' header was partially blocked by Japanese goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto. Bajramaj hooked in the rebound from a tight angle to finally crack the Japanese resistance.
And she was again on the spot when she fired home from close range with three minutes left to clinch victory. Germany have won bronze in their last two Games - they defeated Sweden in Athens in the third-place play-off and Brazil in Sydney in 2000.
The Germans missed their chance to play in the Beijing final when they were beaten 4-1 by Brazil in Tuesday's semi-final in Shanghai.
Germany – Japan, Beijing, August 21, 2008
