The United States' Christie Rampone (centre), Shannon Boxx (right) and Lori Chalupny celebrate after beating Brazil 1-0 in the women's gold medal match yesterday. - AP

BEIJING (AP):

CARLI LLOYD scored in the sixth minute of extra time, giving the United States a 1-0 victory yesterday over Brazil and the Olympic gold medal in women's football.

Outplayed for most of the game, the US snatched victory when Amy Rodriguez won a loose ball and found Lloyd to her left. The midfielder touched the ball once, and then drove a left-footed shot from just outside the 18-yard line that bounced and then skidded to the left of diving goalkeeper Barbara.

Four years ago in Athens, Brazil also outplayed the US for most of the gold medal game but lost 2-1 in extra time. It was the third gold medal in women's soccer for the US, their only loss coming against Norway in 2000.

American goalkeeper Hope Solo kept the US in the game for the first 85 minutes, making at least a half-dozen key saves. In the 72nd, Solo threw up her right arm to stop a close-range shot from striker Marta that seemed certain to be a goal.

Solo also punched Marta's corner away in the final minutes of extra time. Brazil pressed after the goal, but had few clear shots on Solo with US defenders foiling corners and shots from open play. In the 27th minute of extra time, Lloyd hit the far post to cap the Americans' late surge.

Brazil seem jinxed in big games. In addition to the Olympic final loss four years ago, the South Americans also lost 2-0 to Germany in the World Cup final a year ago.

Redemption

It was redemption for Solo. In the World Cup semi-finals last year against Brazil, she was benched by then-coach Greg Ryan, who went with the veteran Briana Scurry.

The US were battered 4-0. Solo openly criticised Ryan afterward and was kicked off the team. Ryan left the team about a month later, replaced by Pia Sundhage of Sweden.

Both teams were unimpressive in the first 20 minutes yesterday, chasing loose balls on a wet field soaked by rain that stopped just minutes before the start.

Early possession was a problem, but the Americans struggled more in the face of a Chinese crowd of 51,612 at Workers' Stadium supporting Brazil and chanting "Jia you Brazil" (Let's go Brazil). Then Marta started to dazzle, catching the attention of celebrities in the crowd that included Pele, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and IOC president Jacques Rogge.

In the earlier game, substitute midfielder Fatmire Bajramaj scored a pair of second-half goals to help world champions Germany beat Japan 2-0 and win their third straight Olympic bronze.