Norway top the world

Norway won the women's World Cup in Solna, Sweden, yesterday, with both goals in their 2-0 win over Germany coming in a three-minute spell just before half-time.

Hege Riise, a survivor from the Norwegian team who lost the last women's World Cup final 2-1 to the United States in 1991, scored the opening goal, with Marianne Pettersen promptly adding the second.

A crowd of 17,000 fans at the Rasunda stadium saw the Norwegian side play a more aggresive game from the kick-off, coming close to scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes; but 37 minutes had elapsed before Riise weaved past the German defence and fired past goalkeeper Manuela Goller. Pettersen added the second three minutes later, following confusion in the German defence.

The Germans attacked more in the second half, but were denied by the Norwegian goalkeeper, Bente Nordby. The United States came third after beating China 2-0 in Saturday's third-place play-off in Gavle.

A close finish to the German Bundesliga on Saturday saw Borussia Dortmund secure their first title for 32 years after a 2-0 victory over Hamburg. Dortmund finished just one point ahead of Werder Bremen, who lost 3-1 at the outgoing champions, Bayern Munich.

Barcelona maintained their record as the only club in Spain never to have missed a season of European competition by winning 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao last night to secure a Uefa Cup place. The champions, Real Madrid, finished the season four points clear, but they lost at home for the first time in 1994/95: 2-0 to Real Betis, who also qualified for the Uefa Cup.