SHANGHAI, China -- Birgit Prinz's goal in the 52nd minute and Simone Laudehr's strike in the 86th lifted Germany to a 2-0 victory against Brazil on Sunday, bringing the team its second successive women's World Cup title.
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Brazil star Marta, who has seven goals in the tournament to lead all scorers, had a chance to tie the game in the second half, but her penalty was stopped by Germany keeper Nadine Angerer diving to her right.
"After the penalty save, I felt it was meant to be," Germany coach Silvia Neid said.
"We worked hard for each other, it was a great team performance. It was important to work against Marta, and we did a good job in pushing her to the sidelines."
Germany went through six games in the tournament without yielding a goal and outscored the opposition 21-0, setting other records in the process.
Germany's defense had to be good. Brazil dominated possession without finding its way past Angerer and central defenders Ariane Hingst and Annike Krahn.
Germany, which is bidding to host the 2011 women's World Cup, broke several records. It's the first soccer team to go through a major senior competition without yielding a goal.
The Europeans have not given up a goal in 619 minutes in the women's World Cup. The last goal was scored four years ago in the finals against Sweden. China held the old record of 442 minutes.
Germany is also the first women's soccer team to successfully defend its title in the World Cup or Olympics.
Germany's best chance of the first half came in the fifth minute when Kerstin Garefrekes found space on the right, but her sharp-angled shot hit the side of the net.
Brazil came close soon after when Formiga shot wide of the right post after a goalmouth scramble.
The match settled into a pattern with Brazil dominating in midfield through the efforts of the hard-tackling duo Formiga and Ester.
Germany ceded too much possession to Brazil and had its iron-clad defense to thank for stopping Brazil's forwards.
