(Sports Network) - Heather O'Reilly scored the fastest goal in Olympic women's soccer history, just 41 seconds into Tuesday's game against New Zealand at Shenyang Stadium, sparking the United States to a convincing 4-0 win and an improbable climb to the top of Group G. The United States needed a win, a Norway loss and to make up a huge deficit in goal differential to win the group, and everything fell into place for the U.S. to avoid a quarterfinal showdown with 2007 World Cup runner-up Brazil.

Amy Rodriguez, Lindsay Tarpley and Angela Hucles also scored for the Americans, who turned a minus-4 goal differential to Norway into a plus-4 because Japan stunned the previously unbeaten Norwegians 5-1.

The United States plays Canada in the quarterfinals on Friday. Norway fell into second in the group and plays Brazil. Japan also advanced to the quarterfinals and plays China.

In Tuesday's other late matches, China defeated Argentina 2-0 to win Group E, while Sweden defeated Canada 2-1 to finish second in that group and set up a quarterfinal with Germany. Canada still advanced as the third-place team.

In Tuesday's early matches, Brazil beat Nigeria 3-1 to win Group F and Germany edged North Korea 1-0 to finish second in that group.

Carli Lloyd, who scored the only goal in the United States' 1-0 win over Japan, helped set up the record-setting goal by winning a goal kick in midfield in the opening minute.

O'Reilly gained control of the ball after Lloyd's header, and she took just a few steps toward goal before unleashing a shot from about 40 yards. New Zealand goalkeeper Jenny Bindon wasn't back in position yet and O'Reilly's shot swerved into the upper-left corner.

Rodriguez added a key goal just before half and Tarpley and Hucles scored early in the second half to wrap up the scoring.

Rodriguez did well to race behind New Zealand's defense in the 43rd minute, and she was able to drill a shot into the lower-left corner.

Tarpley finished off a rebound in the 56th minute and Hucles lofted a shot off of Bindon's fingertips and into the net in the 60th minute.

In Shanghai, Norway jumped out to a quick lead but Japan's Yukari Kinga leveled the match before halftime and an own goal started a four-goal second-half Japan outburst. Shinobu Ohno, Homare Sawa and Ayumi Hara scored Japan's other goals.

In Beijing, Lotta Schelin scored in the 19th and 51st minutes to give Sweden a two-goal edge and it held off Canada. Melissa Tancredi had Canada's lone goal in the 63rd minute.

In Qinhuangdao, China got second-half goals from Duan Han and Yasha Gu to beat Argentina and join Brazil and Germany as the only unbeaten teams in the group stage.

Earlier in Beijing, Cristiane scored a hat trick in less than 15 minutes to lead Brazil to an easy win over Nigeria at Workers' Stadium.

Cristiane, who finished third in the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year poll last year, scored in the 34th, 35th and 45th minutes as the Brazilians overcame an early deficit.

Earlier in Tianjin, Anja Mittag scored Germany's lone goal against North Korea in the 86th minute at Olympic Center Stadium, but a draw would have also been enough for the back-to-back World Cup winner to secure second in the group.

Germany and Brazil finished with seven points, but the Brazilians claimed the top spot in the group on goal differential. Brazil and Germany tied, 0-0, last week.

Brazil and Germany could potentially play in the semifinals, and both countries are on the opposite side of the knockout stage of the United States. That means the U.S. can't face Brazil or Germany until the final.

Argentina, New Zealand, Nigeria and North Korea were eliminated.



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