Defending champions storm to final

TIANJIN: Defending champions Germany crushed arch-rivals Norway 3-0 to storm into its second successive women's World Cup final yesterday.

Germany was gifted an own goal on 42 minutes and put the 1995 winners to the sword in the second half with strikes from Kerstin Stegeman and substitute Martina Mueller.

Germany enter Sunday's final against either two-time champions the United States or Brazil, who play on Thursday, as the first team to reach the last two without conceding a goal.

"It was a great performance and I'm absolutely delighted we haven't let in a goal," said coach Sylvia Neid. "I think that's never happened in World Cup history before."

Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen admitted fellow heavyweights Germany was the stronger team but cursed its final strike, which came from a defensive slip.

"In the second half Germany were much better than us, especially when they scored the second goal," said the disappointed Berntsen.

"The third goal was a big mistake by our defence. If you make a mistake like that Germany will punish you."

Norway dominated a fast and physical opening at the Tianjin Olympics Center Stadium with tournament joint top-scorer Ragnhild Gulbrandsen (five) on the end of several lightning counter-attacks.

Leni Larsen Kaurin poked a bouncing ball goalwards and Solveig Gulbrandsen worked German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer with a powerful first-time shot from one of several corners.

But the introduction of Fatmire Bajramaj paid immediate dividends for Germany who scored against the run of play just before half-time.

The pacy midfielder fed veteran striker Birgit Prinz, the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 13 goals, who muscled into the box and whipped a cross that bounced off the lunging Trine Ronning and into her own net.

Germany pressed its advantage after the break with shell-shocked Norway, who lost key midfielder Solveig Gulbrandsen, struggling to regroup.

Sandra Smisek scooped over the bar after a cut-back from German captain Prinz, who was causing mayhem with her bullocking runs, while Ingvild Stensland's last-ditch tackle denied Kerstin Garafrekes.

As the shots rained in a Norway blunder handed Germany its third goal, as substitute Siri Nordby's weak back pass was intercepted by Mueller for a simple tap-in on 75 minutes.

AFP

(China Daily 09/27/2007 page24)