Twice former winners Germany have crashed out in the opening phase of the Women's Football World Cup for the first time, after being held to a 1-1 draw with South Korea in their final Group H match.
Champions in 2003 and 2007, the Germans needed a win to be sure of progressing and Morocco's 1-0 win over Colombia in the other group match at Perth sent both teams through to the last 16.
The Koreans took a surprise early lead, when Cho So-hyun netted in the sixth minute, but while Alexandra Popp equalised with a trademark header three minutes before the interval, Germany were unable to find the winner needed to advance.
Voss-Tecklenburg's side threw everything forward after the interval, with Popp's 57th minute header ruled out on review by video review, as the striker strayed offside, after a clever flick by Lea Schuller.
Two minutes later, the German forward then rattled the crossbar with another headed effort and Popp was again denied 16 minutes from time, when her bullet-header flew straight into the hands of Kim.
Substitute Sydney Lohmann thumped a pair of efforts just off target deep into almost 16 minutes of added time, but Bell's side hung on for a point that sent the Germans out.
Ranked second in the world, Germany finished with four points, behind Colombia and Morocco with six points each in Group H, sending the two-time World Cup champions home early.
In nine appearances in the World Cup, this is the first time Germany won't be part of the last 16.
Meanwhile, first-time participants Morocco edged Colombia 1-0 to advance to the knockout stage.
Anissa Lahmari scored the only goal of the Group H match at Perth, pounding a rebound of Ghizlane Chebbak's missed penalty into the net at the end of the first half.
Up next for Morocco are France. Colombia, which won their first two matches and finished ahead of Morocco on goal differential, will play Jamaica at Melbourne.
Manuela Vanegas will miss the match for Colombia, after drawing another yellow card.
Morocco's men became the first African or Arab nation to reach a FIFA World Cup Round of 16 in 2022.
Reuters
