Frankfurt, Oct 17: Women's World soccer champions Germany return home. The German women's soccer team returned home with the Women's World Cup on Tuesday (October 14) to a rapturous reception in the centre of Frankfurt.
Germany lifted the trophy for the first time on Sunday after a golden goal from substitute Nia Kuenzer gave them a 2-1 victory over Sweden in Carson, California. 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. Germany's 32-year-old captain Bettina Wiegmann, playing her last game for her country, won the player of the match award. 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.


Bureau Report