Wuhan, China (My Sportsbook) - Germany advanced to the semifinals of the Women's World Cup for the fourth time in five tournaments with a 3-0 win over North Korea on Saturday in a quarterfinal matchup.

Goals from Kerstin Garefrekes, Renate Lingor, and Annike Krahn allowed Germany to move on and meet the winner of Sunday's quarterfinal between host nation China and Norway.

German keeper Nadine Angerer set a World Cup record with her fourth consecutive clean sheet in the win as Germany has yet to concede a goal in its first four games of the competition.

North Korea, playing in its first ever quarterfinal, started the match well but could not sustain its high level of play and will now head home after what has to be considered a successful World Cup.

The North Koreans started well as they put pressure on the German defense with a number of long balls. Germany's back line was well organized and handled everything, but it was North Korea who was on the offensive early.

The Asian side produced its best moment of the first half 12 minutes into the game when Un Gyong Ri was played into the box and tried to poke a shot past Angerer. However, Angerer came off her line and knocked the shot away. Germany's Linda Bresonik then tried to clear the rebound, but her effort was blocked by a sliding Young Ae Kim and the ball rolled just inches wide of the right post.

Birgit Prinz tried to get Germany into the game minutes later by collecting the ball in midfield and dribbling into space. Prinz then fired a shot over the net from 20 yards.

Son Hui Kil blasted a shot from the right of goal well over the target for North Korea, but Germany began to sway the tide of the match over the remainder of the first half.

Melanie Behringer served a low cross from the left towards the near post for Sandra Smisek, but her diving header ended up on the outside of the net.

Prinz then found room in the box when she laid a pass off to Behringer on the left and floated into the area. Behringer returned the pass by lobbing a cross to the penalty spot, and while Prinz got her head to the cross, she sent it wide of the right post.

Germany was clearly the stronger side as halftime approached, and Garefrekes gave them the lead with a nice piece of individual skill.

After taking a pass on the right flank, Garefrekes cut towards the middle of the field and took on three defenders. She had the ball poked away, but regained possession just inside the box and curled a left-footed shot around keeper Myong Hui Jon and into the far corner.

It was a tough way to end the opening half for North Korea, who had the better of the play early on, but they would continue to press the German defense at the start of the second half.

The North Koreans found some openings 15 minutes after the restart, and spent some time inside the German box.

A poor clearance by Lingor lead to an anxious moment as Kil stopped the clearance inside the area and slid a quick pass to Un Suk Ri. She then tried to find Kum Suk Ri at the left post but the pass rolled just out of her reach.

North Korea then missed a great chance to equalize because of a fine save by Angerer. Kil had the ball on the right inside the box and found Un Gyong Ri at the penalty spot with a pass. She turned a first-time strike on target, but a diving Angerer reacted well and knocked the ball away.

The momentum was clearly with the Asian side, but Germany went right back down the field and struck a cruel blow to North Korea's hopes. Lingor and Smisek worked a perfect give-and-go at the edge of the box, with Lingor taking the return pass and finishing well into the right corner.

The goal seemed to stun North Korea, and they soon found themselves behind 3-0 just five minutes later.

Behringer drove a corner kick to the middle of the box, and Krahn got her thigh on the ball to redirect it on net. The ball did not have much behind it, but North Korean defender Jong Ran Om, who was positioned on the goal line, whiffed on the clearance, allowing the ball to find the net.

North Korea was out of the game, but the team continued to try to find its way onto the scoreboard, missing some decent chances over the final 15 minutes.

They tested Angerer, who had been a question mark coming into the tournament, but the German keeper showed her quality and now looks to lead Germany to another World Cup title.