Germany retain women's World Cup

SHANGHAI, China -- Germany became the first team to successfully defend the women's World Cup when they beat Brazil 2-0, with goals from Birgit Prinz and Simone Laudehr in Shanghai.

German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer also saved a penalty from world player of the year Marta, to preserve her side's remarkable record of not conceding a goal in the entire tournament.

Angerer needed a bit of luck when she failed to collect Daniela's eighth minute free kick and Formiga was unable to hit the target from the rebound, and again when Daniela's left foot volley in the 23rd minute flew past her but rattled the woodwork.

But the keeper covered herself in glory in the 62nd minute when, with the Germans 1-0 ahead, Brazil were awarded a penalty when Cristiane was brought down.

Angerer dived to her right and blocked Marta's shot with her knees.

German captain Prinz had opened the scoring after after 52 minutes with a fierce shot on the turn after receiving a pass from Sandra Smisek

Brazilian goalkeeper Andreia might have done better as the ball slid under her body.

Soon after the penalty miss Angerer made another spectacular save to deny sub Rosana and with four minutes left Laudehr headed home powerfully following a corner.

Abby Wambach gave the United States something more than bad memories to carry home with two goals in a 4-1 defeat of Norway in the third place playoff.

Wambach's two goals, and two more from Lori Chalupny and Heather O'Reilly, gave the United States a comfortable win. Wambach notched six goals in the competition.

Wambach scored in the 30th and 46th minutes to put the Americans in command.

The powerful American striker deflected in Chalupny's bouncing shot from outside the area in the 30th. Sixteen minutes later, she chipped in a loose ball that Norwegian keeper Bente Nordby failed to control.

Chalupny and O'Reilly scored in quick succession early in the second half, giving them each two for the tournament.

Chalupny hit home in the 58th on a freak shot that hit a Norwegian defender's leg and went in from long range. O'Reilly scored a minute later, knocking in a rebound from close in. Norway broke scored in the 63rd through Ragnhild Gulbrandsen's header -- her sixth goal of the tournament -- that went in just over the fingertips of American keeper Briana Scurry

A team distracted by the expulsion of goalkeeper Hope Solo pulled together three days after a humiliating 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil. E-mail to a friend