CARSON, Calif., 14 October 2003 — Germany lifted the Women’s World Cup for the first time on Sunday after a golden goal from substitute Nia Kuenzer gave them a 2-1 victory over Sweden.

The match had gone into extra time when Kuenzer rose to meet a controversially awarded free kick from midfielder Renate Lingor in the 98th minute and headed home from 12 yards out.

The defeat was a bitter blow to the Swedes who had lost to Germany in the final of the 2001 European championship also by a golden goal in extra-time.

An angry Swedish coach Marika Domanski Lyfors ran up to Romanian referee Floarea Ionescu to protest as the German team celebrated their triumph.

“I only told her it wasn’t a free kick. I didn’t say anything else that was rude,” Domanski Lyfors told reporters.

“It is the second time and the way we lose it, it was even harder I think,” she said.

Germany’s 32-year-old captain Bettina Wiegmann, playing her last game for her country, won the player of the match award.

“I think it is a dream for me to win the World Cup and a great moment to retire,” she said.

“I think today it was a great game...It was a tough game and it was a close game and I think in the end it was a lucky goal for us,” Wiegmann added.

The first half was evenly fought until Sweden broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.

Forward Hanna Ljungberg was sent clear by a fine pass from midfielder Victoria Svensson and calmly slotted the ball past onrushing German keeper Silke Rottenberg.

Germany equalized just 45 seconds into the second half when Maren Meinert fired home after collecting a pass from fellow striker Birgit Prinz.

The Swedes appeared to lose confidence and the Germans quickly took control of the game but were denied by a string of outstanding saves by Caroline Joensson.

Sweden rallied late in the second half and Svensson thought she had won it for her side in the 90th minute when she calmly rounded the German keeper and slotted the ball into the net only to turn around and see the assistant referee flagging for offside.

Germany were playing in their second Women’s World Cup final, after losing to Norway in 1995. Sweden had never before reached the final.

On Saturday, United States defeated Canada 3-1 to clinch the third place.

The Americans got off to a slow on as the underdog Canadians had the better scoring opportunities in the first half. The US finally woke up in the second half thanks to the play of veteran players like Mia Hamm, who has scored over 140 goals in international play.

Hamm marked her final World Cup football match with a victory lap around the field.

It was the perfect exclamation mark for women’s soccer’s greatest player.

“The first group we wanted to thank was all our friends and family in the stands. Without those guys all along the way none of this would be possible,” said Hamm, who helped set up the winning goal with a superb feed off a corner in a 3-1 win over gritty Canada.

“It is not just your immediate family you want to thank. When you walk into the dressing room everyone comes up and cheers for you.”

Hamm’s perfectly-timed corner was headed into the net by Shannon Boxx. Substitute Tiffeny Milbrett added the insurance marker for the US which clinched third place at the 2003 Women’s World Cup.

“This team never ceases to amaze me,” said Hamm, who at 31 says she is appearing in her final World Cup.

“The way they rise up and despite the emotions that were going through us all week. We put together a really strong performance against a team we needed to.”