Abby Wambach scored the lone goal in the 35th minute, and the top-ranked U.S. women's team edged second-ranked and two- time defending World Cup champion Germany, 1-0, on Thursday in a friendly at Impuls Arena.

Wambach headed in a pass from Yael Averbuch for her 101st career goal, rising above Germany goalie Nadine Angerer to score from 12 yards out. U.S. goalie Hope Solo was forced to make only one save for the shutout.

The U.S. has allowed only one goal in eight matches this season. Sweden scored the lone goal against the U.S. in the Algarve Cup final, a 1-1 draw that the Swedes won in penalty kicks.

Germany, which won the World Cup in 2003 and 2007, hosts the 2011 World Cup. Impuls Arena, a newly-built stadium in Augsburg, is one of nine venues for the tournament.

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