Portland, OR (My Sportsbook) - Germany advanced to the World Cup final for the first time since 1995 with a 3-0 upset over the defending champion United States in a semifinal match at PGE Park on Sunday.
A first-half goal by Kerstin Garefrekes and late second-half goals by Maren Meinert and Birgit Prinz in added time sent the Germans into the final to face the winner of the Sweden/Canada match, which will be played later Sunday.
The final is set for Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. at the Home Depot Center in Carso California. The U.S. will play the loser of the Sweden/Canada match for third place on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Carson.
For the number one-ranked U.S., the loss is their first in World Cup play since 1995 and their 1999 title defense has come to an end.
Garefrekes scored her fourth goal of the World Cup in the 15th minute as the U.S. trailed for the first time in the tournament.
Germany's Renate Lingor fired a corner kick into the area and Garefrekes was there to head it off the crossbar, but past U.S. 'keeper Briana Scurry for the goal.
Meinert put the game on ice in the 91st minute. Prinz found the veteran wide open in the area for the easy finish.
Two minutes later, Prinz scored her tournament-leading seventh goal and the celebration began.
Germany 'keeper Silke Rottenberg played outstanding in net. She tallied six crucial saves on a constant U.S. attack.
Intensity swelled in the second half as the Americans were searching desperately for the equalizer.
Things got precarious for the defending World Cup champs in the 52nd minute, but Scurry made two enormous saves to keep the score at 1-0.
Prinz made a diving header and Scurry was there for the kick-save. On the rebound Garefrekes put a header on goal, but the wily 'keeper parried it away.
Much like the first half, the U.S. went on the attack in the second frame, putting pressure on the German defense.
After a myriad of failed corners, Abby Wambach won a ball sent deep into the area in the 69th minute, but she was whistled for a foul as it went off the left post.
Controversy ensued a few minutes later as Tiffeny Millbrett came on as a sub for the U.S. and was taken down by Rottenberg in the area. Millbrett vehemently argued with the referee for a penalty kick, but it was not to be.
The Americans had their best chance to bring the match level in the 32nd minute. Wambach played a great pass to Mia Hamm who charged into the area and collided with Rottenberg. The ball squirted lose, but Kristine Lilly's attempt was deflected off a Germany defender.
Rottenberg came up huge again for Germany in the 42nd minute. Wambach came storming down the right side of the box and fired a shot on net, but the veteran netminder was there for another diving save.
Lilly nearly equalized the match in the 26th minute for the U.S. with a left- footed strike from 20-yards out, but Rottenberg fully extended herself for the diving save.
Germany entered the contest with a tournament-high 20 goals -- a staggering five goals per game average for the tournament. Meanwhile, the U.S. had allowed a World Cup-best one goal through four matches.
MATCH NOTES: The win for Germany was there first against the U.S. since October 1997...It was the U.S.'s second loss ever in a World Cup...At Sweden 1995, Germany fell to Norway in the final, 2-0.
