Albania end wait behind Germany

Last season's UEFA European Under-17 Championship runners-up Germany topped qualifying round Group 12 with three wins and behind them Albania have made progress for the first time in nine seasons.

Ahead of the concluding games in Tallinn, Germany led Albania and Slovakia by three points with Estonia yet to get off the mark. Germany defeated Slovakia 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Leon Goretzka and Said Benkarit, allowing Albania to go through with a 1-1 draw against the hosts despite Amri Jonuzi's 52nd-minute penalty being equalised at the death by Kaspar Paur to ensure some consolation for Estonia.

Albania, who had fallen at the first hurdle every year since reaching the old second qualifying round in 2002/03, made the perfect start by beating Slovakia 2-1, Frans Ymeralilaj scoring either side of a Filip Ďuriš goal after the break in a tight encounter. Germany eased to a 5-0 win against an Estonia team that ended with nine men courtesy of Serge Gnabry, Niklas Süle, Marian Sarr, Said Benkarit and Jeremy Dudziak.

It was closer two days later as a 52nd-minute Sarr penalty ensured Germany defeated Albania 1-0. Slovakia overcame Estonia 5-0 with two goals from substitute Marek Zuziak, but the 2012/13 finals hosts' campaign was ended by Germany, who along with Albania await the 29 November draw for March's elite round.