Dzsenifer Marozsan
Dzsenifer Marozsan starred for Germany in the final Getty Images

KEY POINTS

  • Dzsenifer Marozsan starred for the gold medal-winning Germans.
  • Canada claimed the bronze by beating hosts Brazil.

Germany have won the women's Olympic football competition for the first time in their history, defeating Sweden 2-1 in the gold medal match. Dzsenifer Marozsan gave Germany the lead thanks to a fine curling finish and Linda Sembrant of Sweden gifted them a second with an own goal after Marozsan's free-kick rebounded off the post.

But Sweden, who eliminated the US and hosts Brazil to reach the final, refused to give up after that setback and Stina Blackstenius pulled a goal back for the underdogs with around 20 minutes remaining. However, the Germans held on to their narrow advantage until full-time to write themselves into the history books.

In the bronze medal match, meanwhile, Canada defeated Brazil 2-1. Deanne Rose and Christine Sinclair scored to give the Canadian women's team back-to-back Olympic bronze medals. "I was not going to leave this tournament without a medal around my neck," Sinclair said after the match, according to CBC.