Germany wins women's football WC

Shanghai:

Germany beat Brazil 2-0 in Shanghai on Sunday to become the first team to retain the Women's World Cup title.

It was star-studded Brazil who had dominated the proceedings initially, narrowly missing several good scoring chances including the one in the 24th minute of the game.

After a goalless first half, Birgit Prinz, the first woman to play in three World Cup finals, broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute. This was her fifth strike in six matches.

Brazil got a chance to level the score in the 64th minute but, Marta, who won the Golden Shoe as the World Cup's top scorer, had her spot kick superbly saved by Nadine Angerer.

The German goalkeeper maintaining her clean sheet for the tournament.

"I watched the game between Brazil and Australia when Marta also took a penalty. In that game she choose to shoot at the keeper's left corner so I thought this time she will aim for the right corner. I decided to wait as long as possible for her shot and it was the right decision," said Nadine Angerer

The South Americans continued to look for an equaliser but were clearly outdone by a solid defence and clinical efficiency from the Germans.

Midfielder Simone Laudehr then sealed the German victory by heading the 2nd goal off a corner kick in the 86th minute.

Wild celebrations erupted as the referee blew the final whistle.

The Germans had set a new football record, in both the men and women's game, by going through the whole tournament without conceding a goal.