ap -Germany's Kerstin Garefrekes (right) fights for the ball with Sweden's Sara Thunebro during a women's quarter-final soccer match at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Shenyang, China,yesterday.

shenyang, china (ap)

Defender Kerstin Gare-frekes and midfielder Simone Laudehr scored a goal each in extra time to help world champions Germany beat Sweden 2-0 yesterday and reach its third straight Olympic women's football semi-final.

The teams drew 0-0 in regulation time before Garefrekes headed in a corner kick in the 105th minute, just barely getting the ball past Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who touched the ball with her fingertips but couldn't make the save. Laudehr sealed the victory with a right-footer in the 115th.

rematch

Germany will now face Brazil in a rematch of last year's World Cup final, when it won the second of its consecutive world titles. The teams drew 0-0 in their Olympic opener.

Germany's streak without allowing a goal in major tournaments was extended to 10 matches with yesterday's result. It won last year's world title with six straight shutouts.

The match at the Shenyang Olympic Stadium was a rematch of the 2003 World Cup final, which Germany won 2-1 to clinch the first of its two consecutive titles. Germany also beat Sweden 1-0 in the bronze-medal match at the Athens Games four years ago.

Germany and Sweden played an even match in Shenyang, with neither team being able to take control.

Germany midfielder Melanie Behringer had the best chance to end the scoreless draw in regulation in the third minute of second-half injury time, firing a powerful right-footer that struck the post as Lindahl watched.

Germany had two of its most dangerous chances in the first half. Midfielder Linda Bresonik hit the post with a long-range shot just eight minutes into the match, and three-time FIFA Player of the Year Birgit Prinz failed to find the open net in the 34th despite breaking free from two defenders and dribbling past Lindahl.

Prinz also came close in the 73rd, again speeding past the Swedish defenders before striking a low left-footer that missed wide.

Substitute defender Anna Paulson almost scored for Sweden in the 83rd with a long-range shot, but Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer made the save.

"It's very sad because we really have a fine team," Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby said. "But to beat Germany you have to be lucky when it comes to scoring."

first olympic final

Germany reached the semi-finals in Athens and in Sydney, winning the bronze on each occasion. The Germans have never reached the Olympic final in women's football.

Brazil, runner-up to the United States four years ago, advanced to the semi-finals by beating Norway 2-1 in Tianjin behind goals by Daniela and two-time FIFA Player of the Year Marta.

The other semi-final will be between the United States and Japan.

Sweden has never won gold, and was eliminated in the group stage at the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 2000 Sydney Games.

(AP Photo/Roberto Candia)