United States retained the Olympic gold medal in women's football yesterday with a 1-0 extra-time win over Brazil, who fell at the last hurdle for the third major competition in a row.

Carli Lloyd rifled the winner with a low shot from the edge of the area six minutes into extra-time after the South Americans had dominated most of the game.

Brazil were also runners-up to the US in Athens four years ago and lost to Germany in last year's World Cup final.

World Player of the Year Marta, who played in all three finals and missed a penalty against Germany, hit the post in the second half.

Marta, often too individualistic, produced plenty of mazy runs but was repeatedly shut out by the US rearguard.

Brazil forward Cristiane, leading scorer with five goals, had the best first-half chance when she broke clear of the defence but Hope Solo rushed out of her goal to block the danger.

In the 72nd minute, Marta scuttled into the penalty area, forced her way between two defenders but saw here shot hit the post.

The US barely threatened until a late second half flurry.

Brazil goalkeeper Barbara had to punch a corner out from under her goal, then stretched to stop a low Angela Hucles shot in the 86th minute.

In the last minute, Amy Rodriguez broke clear but squandered her chance with an attempted chip which Barbara saved.

Lloyd was denied a second when she hit the post in the 115th minute while Marta floated a free-kick narrowly wide at the other end.

In the last minute of extra-time, Brazil's Renata Costa fired into the side-netting from a corner.

In the bronze medal final, substitute Fatmire Bajramaj scored twice to give world champions Germany a 2-0 win over Japan yesterday.

Bajramaj put Germany ahead in the 69th minute, 10 minutes after coming on, when she snapped up a rebound to score from a narrow angle after Miho Fukumoto saved a Kerstin Garefrekes header.

Three minutes from time, she cut inside her marker and drilled home Germany's second.