GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - Maria Riesch of Germany beat American Lindsey Vonn by nearly half a second in the final downhill of the season to keep the race for the overall title alive between the two Olympic champions and good friends.

Vonn, who took gold in the Olympic downhill, could have clinched her third straight overall title Wednesday but she still retains a 225-point lead going into the final three races. A win is worth 100 points.

"I haven't won it yet," Vonn said. "It's not finished yet. It's still possible (for Riesch to win), it's unlikely but it's not finished."

Riesch claimed an emphatic victory on her home course, leaving Vonn and the rest of the field far behind. Vonn had already clinched the downhill title.

"When I crossed the line I did not look at the board immediately but when I saw that I was more than a second ahead, I thought I could win this race," said Riesch after her 14th career victory and fourth downhill win.

"If Lindsey is half a second behind, I must have had a really good race," added the German, who won slalom and combined gold medals at the Vancouver Olympics.

Anja Paerson of Sweden was third, more than a second behind Riesch.

Top Canadian was Britt Janyk of Whistler, B.C., in 19th.

Although Riesch cut Vonn's overall lead by 20 points, the German said she had given up hope of collecting that title.

"I am still 200 points behind, I don't think it's possible. The pressure is off. I am proud of today's win, this is the course for next year's World Championship and it's good to know that I can be fast on it," Riesch said.

Vonn said she would have to "give my best" to win the overall title.

"But if I collect points in the last three races I should be ahead. I don't need that many points. Maria had a super race today," Vonn said.

Vonn and Riesch have spent Christmas holidays together at the German's home in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Riesch came down the sun-drenched 2,920-metre long Kandahar course in one minute 34.82 seconds. Vonn was .48 seconds behind and Paerson 1.13 back.

American Julia Mancuso, the Olympic silver medallist , finished fifth, while bronze medallist Elisabeth Goergl of Austria was the only racer to crash but appeared not to be hurt.

Vonn clinched the downhill title last Saturday in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, which was her sixth downhill win of the season. She won all but two races.

The American is also sure of the super-G title .

Vonn is still nursing a sore right shin and a broken little finger on her right hand. She bruised the shin before the Olympics and broke the finger in a spill in the Olympic giant slalom.

Vonn can become the American with the most World Cup wins this weekend. She is tied with Bode Miller with 32.

Miller ended his season early to rest a sore right ankle and is not competing at the World Cup finals.

The next race for the women is Thursday's giant slalom while the men have a super-G.