CANBERRA Olympic champions United States beat Brazil 1-0 with a hotly-disputed Mia Hamm goal in a hard-fought semifinal on Sunday to secure a place against Norway in the final of the women's soccer tournament.
Norway clinched their spot in Thursday's final with a 1-0 win over Germany in Sydney thanks to an 80th minute own goal by Tina Wunderlich.
Brazil will meet Germany for the bronze medal in the third-place playoff match in a curtain-raiser to the final.
After a slow start at Canberra, the pace of the match picked up with both teams going on the attack and Swiss referee Nicole Petignat booking three players from each side.
Although the 11,000 fans at Canberra's Bruce Stadium who included FIFA President Sepp Blatter were clearly backing the Brazilians, the United States were the better team.
Brazil counterattacked with pace and invention but the Americans were better organized and more efficient passers and movers of the ball.
Brazil suffered a blow when Katia, their most dangerous forward was carried off injured after 57 minutes and three minutes later they were in even worse trouble when they went behind.
Brandi Chastain sent a free-kick into the box which goalkeeper Andreia missed and it fell to Hamm who turned the ball in at the near post.
But Brazilian Coach Jose Duarte later complained the referee should have called a foul with Andreia apparently pushed over by Tiffeny Milbrett as the pair challenged for the ball.
(Reuter)