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Women's football

André LeslieMarch 12, 2015

Germany finished strongly at the women's soccer tournament in Portugal after beating Sweden 2-1 in the 3rd/4th place playoff on Wednesday. The USA boosted their World Cup credentials by overpowering France in the final.

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German women's team celebrate a goal at the Algarve Cup
Image: Filipe Farinha/Bongarts/Getty Images

Kick off! in Portugal

Germany's women's national soccer team have beaten Sweden 2-1 in the playoff for third at this year's Algarve Cup in Portugal. The 12-team tournament is considered one of the major warm-up events ahead of the Women's World Cup, to be held in Canada in June.

The German side went into the lead early in the game, after a successful strike in the third minute from Anja Mittag. In the second half, Alexandra Popp doubled Germany's lead with a goal in the 52nd minute.

Sweden's Sofia Jakobsson pulled one back in the 64th minute, but it was not enough for the 2009 Algarve champions. Despite a predictably frenetic finish, the 2007 World Cup winners were able to hold their lead until the full-time whistle.

The victory will be sweet for Silvia Neid's team, after Germany lost to Sweden in their first match of the competition despite leading early in the game.

The Algarve Cup featured nine teams involved in this year's Women's World Cup in Canada, including the top five women's football sides in the world.

In the final in Faro later on Wednesday, a powerful USA team overcame France, 2-0. Julie Johnston opened the scoring for the two-time world champion on seven minutes, with Christen Press adding the second before half-time.