Japan's 5-1 defeat of Norway on Tuesday in Shanghai saw the East Asians through to the quarter-finals of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament. They will now meet China in their last-eight clash while the second-placed Norwegians take on Brazil and table-toppers the USA face Canada.

Norway opened the scoring in the 27th minute even though it was the Japanese who had the better of the early exchanges. Guro Knutsen, on for her injured sister, Marie, got the final touch to put the Scandinavians one up.

However, just four minutes later, the Japanese responded with a well-worked goal of their own. Aya Miyama carved out an opening on the left and crossed dangerously for Yukari Kinga, who made no mistake stroking home with her right foot.

The second half saw the Japanese take full advantage of Norway's defensive frailties as they scored four goals for a place in the quarter-finals at the expense of Korea DPR. Gunhild Folstad put through her own net on 51 minutes to make it 2-1 for Japan. Just one minute later it was 3-1 for the Asians as Shinobu Ohno fired a rocket from distance which took a deflection before hitting off the underside of the crossbar and ending up in the back of the net.

Homare Sawa hit home from close range in the 71st minute, and Ayumi Hara grabbed the fifth goal of the rout with nine minutes to go after an egregious error from Norwegian goalkeeper Erika Skarbo.

Third-place Japan will now face China in an all-East Asian quarter-final in Qinhuangdao, while Norway (second in Group G) have the unenviable task of taking on Brazil in Tianjin and first-place USA meet local rivals Canada in Shanghai.