Her second goal came in the 61 minute off a free kick that hit off Sweden’s Linda Sembrant for a 2-0 lead.
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And Germany held on against the Scandinavians – who beat favourites the United States of America and hosts Brazil on penalties to reach the final.
Germany missed out on the Olympics in 2012 but won the bronze the last three times they played, in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Victory handed Neid a golden goodbye in her last game after a hugely successful 11 years in charge, including wins at the 2007 World Cup and 2009 and 2013 European championships.
“What I felt was pure joy, because I know that was what we had earned and what we have worked so hard for”, Neid said.
Sweden were critised by some previously after being ultra defensive yet got the results they needed to make it through to the final. Sweden will have to settle for their first Olympic medal being silver.
With her arms raised in victory, coach Silvia Neid ran onto the field to join the celebration of Germany’s first gold medal (women or men) in the sport.
Both came early in the second half at an impressively-full Maracana, where Sweden were unable to add another after substitute Stina Blackstenius reduced the deficit as Germany gave outgoing coach Silvia Neid the ideal send off. The Canadians also won the bronze at the London Games.
Serbia’s win guaranteed its first Olympic medal in men’s basketball since gaining independence in 2006.
Serbia had a late last look against the US and missed.
Neid announced previous year that she would step down following the Rio de Janeiro Games, making way for current assistant Steffi Jones to take over as coach.
“It’s very easy for me to hand of the reins to somebody else”.
The 52-year-old, who accumulated 111 caps for the national side between 1982 and 1996 and scored 48 goals, has spent 20 years behind the bench for Germany, first as an assistant, then taking over as head coach in 2005. “It’s completely different when you decide yourself when to stop”, she said. The United States was just good enough again versus Spain as bodies fell more than shots and several technical fouls kept the teams from finding an offensive flow.
Track and Field: Women’s high jump (7:30 p.m., NBC) – All three USA women are into the final, and while Chaunte Lowe is the top medal favorite, more eyes likely will be on Vashti Cunningham, the 18-year-old daughter of former NFL QB Randall Cunningham.
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“Luckily, I had an uphill lie”, she said. We played very well against the best teams in the world. “I want to keep on learning other things”.
