WORLD CUP SOCCER Germans bring home first women's crown

Nia Kuenzer scored the winning goal against Sweden in overtime.
CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- Now the German women have something to brag about, too.
In winning their nation's first Women's World Cup Sunday, the Germans are bringing home a championship trophy to place next to the three owned by their countrymen. Their 2-1 victory over Sweden on Nia Kuenzer's goal eight minutes into overtime was worthy of celebration.
"We'll have a banquet when we get home and I think there will be a lot of media there and the president of the federation," tournament MVP Birgit Prinz said. "I hope that it will have a giant impact on women's soccer. In Germany, women's soccer is growing, so hopefully it will help it out."
Goalies busy
Both teams were dynamic offensively; if not for the work of goalkeepers Silke Rottenberg for Germany and Caroline Joensson for Sweden, the score could have reached double digits.
Germany, which outscored opponents 22-3 in reaching the final -- including a 3-0 semifinal win against the defending champion United States -- won it thanks to an unlikely source.
Amid such standouts as Maren Meinert, the MVP of the last WUSA season who is headed for retirement, Prinz and Bettina Wiegmann, it was Kuenzer who headed home the winning goal off a long free kick by Renate Lingor. Kuenzer entered the game 10 minutes earlier.
"Bench players' role is to support the team whether they are on the field or not, whether they get subbed in and out," Kuenzer said through an interpreter. "When we get in we want to create a spark for the team and contribute.
"Every soccer player dreams of scoring the deciding goal in the World Cup," she said. "But expect it?"
She vigorously shook her head and laughed.
"No."
Objection
The Swedes, who got a first-half goal from Hanna Ljungberg -- she nearly won it at the end of regulation with two penetrating moves -- believe the game ended unfairly. They were livid about the free kick awarded by referee Floarea Ionescu.
"I don't think that was a free kick, but things like that happen," Ljungberg said of the seemingly innocent play in which Victoria Svensson was whistled for a foul. "You need to play on even though the referee makes a mistake."