SHANGHAI, China (AP) – Abby Wambach gave the United States something more than bad memories to carry home from the women’s World Cup.

Wambach’s two goals, and two more from Lori Chalupny and Heather O’Reilly, led the United States to a lopsided 4-1 victory over Norway on Sunday in the third-place game.

Defending champion Germany defeated Brazil 2-0 in the title game on second-half goals by Birgit Prinz and Simone Laudehr.

The powerful American striker scored in the 30th and 46th minutes, giving her six goals for the tournament and putting the United States in command.

The U.S. team, distracted by the expulsion of goalkeeper Hope Solo, pulled together three days after a humiliating 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil that ended a 51-game winning streak.

The United States has won the World Cup twice – 1991 and 1999 – and finished third in 1995, 2003 and this year.

The game was a welcome respite from the controversy that erupted after the loss to Brazil.

That loss was the worst for the U.S. in World Cup history, promoting Solo – who was benched for the game and replaced by the veteran Scurry – to openly criticize Ryan for not playing her and to seemingly question Scurry’s ability. That drew the ire of veteran players.

Despite an apology to the team, Ryan excluded Solo for the Norway match, putting her future with the national team in doubt. She did not attend the game, but team officials said Sunday she remained in China.

Ryan said the matter was being handled “internally” and did not say if Solo would return with the team.

Cat Whitehill, Solo’s former roommate, said she had forgiven Solo, and she thought her teammate had, too.

“Anything is possible,” Whitehill said. “We know what a great goalkeeper Hope is. She proved it during this World Cup. She’s a good friend of mine, and I hope she will be able to do it.”

Whitehill said switching goalkeepers was not the problem, but what followed was.

“There was a lot of emotions going into that Brazil game. There was just a lot going on, and we didn’t handle it well,” she said. “It was just handling the pressure that came with it, the semifinal game, listening to the media talk about the goalkeepers. There were a lot of surrounding things.”

Ryan’s unusual move – Solo was unscored on in almost 300 minutes in four World Cup games – also puts his future in doubt. Ryan’s contract expires at year’s end, and he said after the match he wants to continue.

Sunday’s World Cup game likely will be the last international appearance for 36-year-old Lilly, the only player to have played in all five women’s World Cups. She said she has not decided if she will play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Defender Kate Markgraf missed the game with a leg injury, replaced by Marian Dalmy. Aly Wagner also started at midfield, replacing Shannon Boxx who picked up a red card against Brazil and was suspended for the game.

AP-ES-09-30-07 1105EDT