Vonn pips favorites to win Levi slalom

LEVI, Finland (Reuters) - Lindsey Vonn pipped the favorites to take her first Alpine skiing World Cup slalom win on Saturday and become the first American woman to win in four disciplines.

Speed specialist Vonn, the World Cup overall champion last season, clocked a combined time of one minute 47.98 seconds down the Levi piste to beat Swede Maria Pietilae-Holmner by 0.40 seconds.

German Maria Riesch was third, 0.66 seconds off the pace.

Vonn, whose previous best result in a slalom was a fourth place in Levi two years ago, took the lead in the World Cup overall standings with 129 points after the first two races of the season.

Finland's Tanja Poutiainen, a disappointing sixth in front of her home crowd, is joint second on 120 points with Pietilae-Holmner.

Vonn, who was fastest in the first run, also won the second leg despite making a huge mistake in the second part of the run.

"This is great, I can't believe it, especially after that mistake," she told reporters. "I love Levi, this is fantastic. It has been really exciting to charge down today as I like to do in downhill, it's a wonderful day for me."

Vonn, whose aim for the winter is to improve in the technical events, has now won in downhill, Super-G, Super Combined and slalom.

"There was pressure on me this afternoon yet I fought hard and made that big big mistake because I tried so hard," she said. "I thought it was all over and attacked more and I could not believe it afterwards...I was lucky to remain on course."

Riesch, who also made mistakes in the second run, was pleased with her result.

"I did attack hard, I made a mistake because it was really demanding, I skied better in the first run.

"It will be an exciting season and I'm looking forward for more in the next events."

Slalom World Cup champion Marlies Schild of Austria is out for the season after breaking her leg during training earlier this year.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)