The exciting run of the under-20 women's soccer team has ended with a resounding 5-1 loss to second-ranked Germany in the semifinals of the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup.

Alexandra Popp and Kim Kulig each scored two goals Thursday in Bochum, Germany, as the 2004 champion shut down South Korea's offense, including leading scorer Ji So-yun. Ji scored her team's lone goal in the 64th minute for her seventh of the tournament.

Popp's goals extended her goal lead to nine for the tournament. Her score in the 50th minute gave Germany a commanding 3-0 lead, and she scored her second of the game off a penalty kick after a bizarre handball by a South Korean defender.

Despite the loss, South Korea posted its best showing in the tournament and will play for third place Sunday.

But South Korea has a long way to go before catching up with North Korea, which lost to Germany in the quarterfinals, 2-0. The North won the 2006 tournament hosted by Russia and was runner-up of the 2008 championship in Chile.