¡¡¡¡COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Defending champions United States and "dark horse" Sweden advanced from Group A, the most difficult group of the 2003 Women's World Cup, after defeating their respective opponents Sunday here.

¡¡¡¡Sweden, who beat the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1-0 last round, secured the quarter-final berth with a 3-0 win over Nigeria, while the U.S. ended DPR Korea's World Cup journey with the same score.

¡¡¡¡The U.S., top finishers of the group with perfect nine points from three wins, will meet Group B runners-up Norway in next stage, while Sweden face the group winners Brazil.

¡¡¡¡Leading DPR Korea by goal difference, Sweden could have advanced with a modest win, but the Europeans gave out the best they could to book the seat of last eight.

¡¡¡¡After brilliant battling for almost one hour, Nigeria finally gave Sweden's star Hanna Ljungbert some space inside the box as the diminutive striker headed in Victoria Svensson's pass on 56 minutes.

¡¡¡¡Nigeria collapsed after Ljungberg calmly chipped in her second of the game in the 79 minutes, and the Swedes did not waste the chance to add some joy to their victory when Malin Mostroem wrapped up the game with her first goal in the tournament(81).

¡¡¡¡Sweden's victory virtually wiped off the Koreans, who meet the American on Game 2 at the Columbus Crew Stadium.

¡¡¡¡Needing at least a 3-0 win to advance, the Koreans saw themselves down 17 minutes into the game. Abby Wambach slotted home for the Americans when referee whistled and pointed to the spot. Wambach stepped on to sent the ball into the back of the netagain. Three minutes after break, Aly Wagner curled in a corner which nobody got a foot on.

¡¡¡¡Cat Reddick flipped it in with her knee. She added her second on the 66th minute to seal the victory. Enditem