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Brazil blanked

Germany beats Brazil 2-0 to claim bronze

German Sandra Minnert (left) kicks the ball as Brazilian Formiga challenges. Pedro Ugarte/AFP

SYDNEY, Australia (CNNSI.com) -- Germany won its first Olympic women's soccer medal Thursday by beating Brazil 2-0.

Before a sparse crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium, Germany's Renata Lingor fired in a free kick in the 64th minute. Teammate Birgit Prinz netted her third goal of the campaign in the 79th minute.

The game preceded the final in which the United States was bidding to win the gold medal for the second time in a row by beating Norway. The Americans beat China in the final to win the first Olympic gold four years ago at Atlanta.

Brazil left joint top scorers Raquel and Katia on the bench while the Germans dropped defender Tina Wunderlich, whose own goal in the semifinal against Norway cost them a place in the final.

The Brazilians almost scored in the 13th minute when Maicon sent Formiga clear down the left but the midfielder's well-struck, angled shot was blocked by goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg at the near post.

Germany replied with a 30-meter free kick from Sandra Minnert that shaved the crossbar, a 25-meter shot from Maren Meinert that flew past the angle and a lobbed corner from Birgit Prinz that bounced off the crossbar.

Inka Grings had a great chance to give the Germans the lead early in the second half but slipped when a left wing cross found her unmarked in front of goal.

But the Germans broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when Lingor curled a 21-meter free kick around the defensive wall and inside the left post.

Grings had a chance to increase the lead but, with two players supporting and in better positions, she opted to shoot and Andreia saved. Then Prinz got clear of the Brazilian defense only to pull her shot wide with the 'keeper beaten.

Pretinha should have leveled in the 75th minute when she dribbled past a defender but shot feebly goalward from barely six meters and the Germans were able to clear.

But the Germans made it 2-0 in the 79th minute when Prinz collected a through ball on her left knee and outpaced Juliana before firing home with her left foot.

Lineups:
Germany - Silke Rottenberg, Kerstin Stegemann (Melanie Hoffmann, 20th), Steffi Jones, Doris Fitschen, Sandra Minnert; Bettina Wiegmann, Ariane Hingst (Stefanie Gottschlich, 55th), Renate Lingor, Maren Meinert, Birgit Prinz, Inka Grings (Jeannette Goette, 90th).

Brazil - Andreia; Juliana, Tania, Simone (Susana, 75th), Daniela, Formiga (Raquel, 68th), Cidinha, Sissi, Roseli (Rosana, 70th), Pretinha, Maicon.

Referee - Im Eun-ju, South Korea.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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