Hamm tap-in settles semi

Mia Hamm celebrates after scoring the only goal

A controversial goal from the golden girl of women's soccer has set up an Olympic showdown between two of the sport's world powers.

Mia Hamm, the best known player in the women's game, scored a controversial winner to take the USA through to to Thursday's final.

The Americans will face Norway, who owed their semi-final win to a moment of madness from German defender Tina Wunderlich.

Hamm picked the perfect time to score her first goal of the Games and decide a scrappy semi-final against Brazil in Canberra.

Hamm's strike partner Tiffeny Milbrett collided with Brazilian goalkeeper Andreia as they challenged for Brandi Chastain's free-kick, leaving Hamm to put the ball into the empty net as the Brazilians appealed in vain to Swiss referee Nicole Petignat for a foul.

Andreia required lengthy treatment for a shoulder injury but Hamm's 127th international goal was a measure of justice for the rough treatment she had received at the hands of the Brazilian defenders.

Poor advert

The match failed to live up to its billing and was a poor advert for the women's game in front of FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Mullinix made a fine save to deny Brazil

The first-half was a non-event, with neither side able to create a clear-cut chance, and it was 30 minutes before the first serious effort on goal.

Despite dominating, Brazil were unable to break down the Americans' physical defence, while at the other end Hamm and Milbrett grew increasingly frustrated at the lack of service.

Juliana collecting a 49th minute yellow card for an appalling tackle on Hamm, and ten minutes later Formiga was also booked for a challenge on the same player, conceding the free-kick which led to Hamm's controversial goal.

Brazil enjoyed their best spell of the game after Hamm scored and on 70 minutes almost equalised when Roseli found herself free inside the box, but US keeper Siri Mullinix denied her with a fine one-handed save.

That save condemned Brazil them to a second semi-final defeat by the Americans in a major tournament inside a year, following their 2-0 reverse in the World Championships.

Horrendous

In Sydney, Norway booked their place in Thursday's final, courtesy of a horrendous error by German defender Wunderlich.

Distraught: Wunderlich is consoled

With ten minutes remaining, Wunderlich - under no pressure - appeared not to hear a team-mate's call and sent a header looping over goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg

Germany made most of the running in a poor first-half, but their lack of composure in front of goal was typified by Ariane Hinst who found herself in space early on, only to hammer her shot towards the corner-flag.

Inka Grings had the best chance of the half on 39th minutes but pulled her shot just wide of the post after pouncing on a mistake by Kristin Bekkevold.

Atlanta bronze medallists Norway came into the game towards the end of the first-half, Brit Sandaune volleying narrowly over the bar after 38 minutes.

The second-half was equally poor until Wunderlich's moment of madness sparked Germany into life. They were inches away from equalising immediately when Bettina Wiegman shot just wide.

In the dying seconds Steffi Jones headed their last chance agonisingly wide to leave Wunderlich in tears at the final whistle.