Germany scored a pair of first-half goals as they defeated China PR 2-0 at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018 in Saint-Malo on Thursday afternoon.

After an even start to this Group D contest at the Stade de Marville, the Germans broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark. Giulia Gwinn took a through ball from Stefanie Sanders and powered a rising shot home from the right of the China PR box.

The Europeans then doubled their advantage on 40 minutes after China failed to clear a Germany corner. Sophia Kleinherne’s looping ball back into the Asian side’s box found an unmarked Laura Freigang at the far post. Her downward header eluded a diving Huan Xu in the Chinese goal for 2-0.

The Chinese did their best to respond after the break, but only Qiwen Xie went the closest to scoring after striking the post. At the other end, Germany substitute Klara Buhl forced a good save from Xu in the late stages.

The result, combined with Nigeria's 1-0 win over Haiti later in the day, secured Germany's spot in the quarter-finals from Group D.