TIANJIN, China (AFP) - Defending champions Germany crushed arch-rivals Norway 3-0 to storm into their second successive women's World Cup final on Wednesday.

Germany were gifted an own goal on 42 minutes and put the 1995 winners to the sword in the second half with strikes from Kerstin Stegeman and substitute Martina Mueller.

Germany enter Sunday's final against either two-time champions the United States or Brazil, who play on Thursday, as the first team to reach the last two without conceding a goal.

"It was a great performance and I'm absolutely delighted we haven't let in a goal," said coach Silvia Neid.

"I think that's never happened in World Cup history before."

Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen admitted fellow heavyweights Germany were the stronger team but cursed their final strike, which came from a defensive slip.

"In the second half Germany were much better than us, especially when they scored the second goal," said the disappointed Berntsen.

"The third goal was a big mistake by our defence. If you make a mistake like that Germany will punish you."

Norway dominated a fast and physical opening at the Tianjin Olympics Center Stadium with tournament joint top-scorer Ragnhild Gulbrandsen (five) on the end of several lightning counter-attacks.

Leni Larsen Kaurin poked a bouncing ball goalwards and Solveig Gulbrandsen worked German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer with a powerful first-time shot from one of several corners.

But the introduction of Fatmire Bajramaj paid immediate dividends for Germany who scored against the run of play just before half-time.

The pacy midfielder fed veteran striker Birgit Prinz, the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 13 goals, who muscled into the box and whipped a cross that bounced off the lunging Trine Ronning and into her own net.

Germany pressed their advantage after the break with shell-shocked Norway, who lost key midfielder Solveig Gulbrandsen, struggling to regroup.

Sandra Smisek scooped over the bar after a cut-back from German captain Prinz, who was causing mayhem with her bullocking runs, while Ingvild Stensland's last-ditch tackle denied Kerstin Garafrekes.

And it was the imposing Prinz who set up Germany's second, picking out Stegeman whose shot deflected off a defender and in off the post on 72 minutes.

As the shots rained in a Norway blunder handed Germany their third goal, as substitute Siri Nordby's weak back pass was intercepted by Mueller for a simple tap-in on 75 minutes.

It was sweet revenge for Germany who crashed 2-0 to Norway in the 1995 final but bounced back to claim their first world title eight years later.

For Norway, who were runners-up in 1991 and lost 5-0 to China in the 1999 semis, it was a first ever World Cup finals defeat to European opposition.

Norway also have a miserable record against Germany in the European championship, losing three finals including in 2005. They had already beaten and drawn against their continental rivals this year.