ZAGREB (Reuters) - Germany's Maria Riesch chalked up her third slalom win in a row on Sunday to oust American Lindsey Vonn from the top of the overall women's World Cup standings.

Germany's Maria Riesch speeds down the course on her way to win an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom race, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan.4, 2009. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Vonn, who was fastest in the first run, missed out on victory when she made a big mistake with a few gates to go and failed to finish.

Lindsey Vonn of the United States falls during the second run of the women's World Cup slalom skiing competition at Mount Sljeme, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. Vonn was leading after the first run. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Lindsey Von of US fall during the second run of women's alpine skiing World Cup slalom race on Sljeme near Zagreb January 4, 2009. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic (CROATIA)

Riesch, a winner last month in the Spanish resort of La Molina and in Semmering, Austria, played it much safer to dislodge her friend and rival. With 607 points, she leads Vonn by 77.

Maria Riesch of Germany reacts on the podium after winning the women's World Cup slalom skiing competition at Mount Sljeme, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

"I have mixed feelings about this victory. I'm delighted to have won but also sad that my friend Lindsey should have been so close. The gap between her and the rest was so huge," said Riesch.

"For sure, the two of us would have been on the podium once again," she added.

The two are best of friends, having spent Christmas together and shared four World Cup podiums this season.

"Good things come three by three. The more I win, the more unbelievable it is and the closer I get to being beaten," added the German.

Italy's Nicole Gius was second, 0.44 seconds adrift, and Czech world champion Sarka Zahrobska was third, 0.63 seconds off the pace.

Italy's Nicole Gius speeds down the course on her way during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom race, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan.4, 2009. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Sarka Zahrobska of Czech Republic speeds down the course on her way during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup Slalom race, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan.4, 2009. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Gius, more of a giant slalom specialist, had not featured in a World Cup slalom top three for more than six years while Zahrobska won in Aspen earlier in the winter.

The first leg had turned into a head-to-head between the season's two leading World Cup contenders, separated by 0.43 seconds with the rest more than a second off the pace.

Vonn, who started first after Austria's Nicole Hosp was injured in practice, punched the air in satisfaction after her morning run.

The American, winner of her first World Cup Alpine skiing slalom in Levi in November, realised she had put in a perfect run and it showed when Riesch was unable to match her time.

In the afternoon, she was doing even better and led by 0.93 with only a few easy gates to go before she crashed unexpectedly.

Hosp, the 2007 World Cup winner, did not start. Austrian team doctors said she felt a sudden pain in the left knee and had been rushed to hospital for checks.

Doctors reported no fracture but the injury came as a nightmare for the Austrian slalom team, who have already lost slalom World Cup holder Marlies Schild through injury.

Before Riesch, Schild was the last skier to have won three slaloms in succession.

Vonn and Riesch look set to keep battling for both the discipline title and the overall World Cup, with Finn Tanja Poutiainen as their only rival.

Poutiainen, who had won twice on the Zagreb course, finished a below-par seventh on Sunday but overtook Vonn by four points in the overall standings.

By Manuele Lang
Editing by Francois Thomazeau and Alan Baldwin
Reuters, 04 January, 2009

Veronika Zuzulova of Slovakia fall during the second run of women's alpine skiing World Cup slalom race on Sljeme near Zagreb January 4, 2009. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic (CROATIA)

NIcole Gius of the Czech republic passes a pole during the women's alpine skiing World Cup slalom race on Sljeme near Zagreb January 4, 2009. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic (CROATIA)

Tanja Poutiainen of Finland passes a pole during the women's alpine skiing World Cup slalom race on Sljeme near Zagreb January 4, 2009. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic (CROATIA)

Maria Reisch of Germany crosses the finish line to win a women's World Cup slalom skiing competition at Mount Sljeme, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Germany's Maria Riesch celebrates after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom race, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 04, 2009. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Germany's Maria Riesch smiles on the podium after winning an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom race, in Zagreb, Croatia, Sunday, Jan. 04, 2009. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)