Künzer sparks German joy

Germany 2-1 Sweden (aet)
A golden goal from substitute Nia Künzer handed Germany victory against Sweden in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup final at the Home Depot Center stadium in Carson, California on Sunday.

Super sub
Künzer had only left the substitutes' bench two minutes before the end of normal time with the scores level - but it took the 23-year-old midfield player just eight minutes of extra time to find the net and ensure the German women's team went one step further than the men, who lost the 2002 FIFA World Cup final to Brazil. Renate Lingor's free-kick picked out Künzer perfectly - and her header was unstoppable.

'Very happy'
Künzern admitted of the decisive moment: "I was confused and did not really know what happened until four or five players jumped on me. I did not know what was going on. I am very happy to have scored."

Ljungberg opener
More than 26,000 specatators watched the Germans come from behind following Hanna Ljungberg's sidefooted opener for Sweden four minutes before half-time. But Maren Meinert equalised immediately after the interval and the Germans, who defeated the United States in the last four, enjoyed the upper hand from that point on, other than for a period at the end of normal time, when Ljungberg twice went close.

Awards for Prinz
German forward Birgit Prinz, who won the Golden Shoe as the tournament's leading scorer with seven goals along with the Golden Ball as the top player, paid tribute to Künzer after the match, saying: "We have very strong substitutes, and I think every time the substitutes were coming in they helped us. That was what Nia was doing for us today."

Comfort drawn
Many fans had expected the US to retain the trophy they lifted in 1999, but a surprise exit at the semi-final stage paved the way for Germany's success. The Americans did at least draw some comfort by defeating neighbours Canada 3-1 in Saturday's third-place play-off match.

Milbrett seals it
Kristine Lilly's spectacular long-range effort got them off to a fine start midway through the first half but Canada kept their composure and after 16-year-old striker Kara Lang hit the post, Christine Sinclair broke clear and scored a 36th-minute leveller. Mia Hamm's corner was headed in by Shannon Boxx shortly after half-time to restore the Americans' lead but although Canada briefly threatened a second equaliser when Sinclair's header struck the crossbar, Tiffeny Milbrett's 80th-minute goal sealed the victory.