WUHAN, China, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Defending champions Germany roared into FIFA Women's World Cup semi-finals here on Saturday, fighting hard to beat tough rivals DPR Korea 3-0.

In the most eye-catching first duel of the quarter-finals, the stalwart Germans played all out to tame the World Cup dark horse, which also showed its amazing skills and strength despite conceding three goals.

It was the first time for DPR Korea to book a quarter-final berth in World Cup history and they dreamed of advancing even further.

DPR Korea dominated the first half, pressing the reigning champions to their own area for quite some time and boasting a 63 against 37 percent of ball possession in the first 30 minutes.

However, German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer smashed the opponents' scoring dream from start to the end with countless great saves. She was named the Player of the Match.

German midfielder Kerstin Garefrekes broke the deadlock on 44 minutes when she dribbled past a defender into the box and sent a brilliant left-foot curling shot to the far top corner of the net.

Garefrekes' partner in the midfield Renate Lingor made it 2-0 in the 67th minute with a right-foot curling shot in the box to the far corner.

Defender Annike Krahn sealed the 3-0 win on 72 minutes, mysteriously thighing in a corner kick from midfielder Melanie Behringer.

The unlucky DPR Koreans created many scoring chances but failed to cash any of them. In the 57th minute, captain Ri Kum Suk earneda solo run into the box, facing the outing keeper Nadine Angerer. But the striker's slide-scoop shot went a bit wide.

On 65 minutes, Ri broke through German defense, causing a meleein the box, but Ri's teammate failed to touch the ball at the goalmouth.

One minute later, DPR Korean forward Kil Son Hui's powerful volley in the box was incredibly tipped out by Angerer.

Germany will take on the winner of the China-Norway game in the semi-final in Tianjin on Sept. 26.

In World Cup history, no team has defended its title. The German may break the jinx in China.