France fightback stuns Scots

By Margus Luik & Márton Dinnyés at Municipal stadium

France need just a point from their final fixture against England to win UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship Group B after coming from behind to defeat Scotland 3-1 on Friday.

Scottish mettle
The Scots lost 3-1 to England on Wednesday yet showed typical mettle to open the scoring through Pamela Liddell in the 14th minute here in Andrashida. An own goal from Hollie Thomson brought the French back into the game and they made their class tell after the break when strikes from Marie-Pierre Castera and Morgane Courteille earned them three more points following their opening humbling of Russia.

Castera chances
Whereas the opening fixtures had been played in glorious sunshine, early thunder and lightning illuminated the sky above the Municipal stadium this evening. With the goals for column already reading plus four, France wasted little time in trying to improve that statistic with Castera shooting against the post after six minutes following great build-up play from Louisa Necib. Courteille and Elodie Thomis then weaved another chance for Castera, although this time she shot over.

First attack
Scotland launched the resulting goal-kick forwards and were soon celebrating their first goal from their first attack. Captain Suzanne Lappin sent a superb through-ball behind the French defensive line for Liddell who beat Sarah Bouhaddi with a neat strike. The setback visibly stunned Les Bleuettes, who could have fallen further behind had Jayne Sommerville - returning from suspension - not fizzed a long-range shot just wide.

Sommerville clearances
France regrouped and Caroline Collie saved well from Courteille before Mériame Ben Abdelwahab drilled another effort wide. Sommerville twice cleared off the line as the pressure intensified and the equaliser had long been coming when Thomson inadvertently steered the ball into her own net five minutes before the break. Five minutes after half-time it was 2-1 as Castera was able to pass the ball into the net after being teed up by Thomis.

Fingertips
Scotland defended bravely and attacked on the counter without alarming Bouhaddi, while France were guilty of failing to turn their dominance into goals - at least until the 78th minute when Courteille whipped in a cross-shot which dipped over Collie despite the goalkeeper getting her fingers to the ball. Collie stops prevented Caroline Pizzala and Castera from extending the lead, although France had done enough to move on to six points in the section.

Scotland chance
Russia beat England 2-1 in the other Group B game, meaning even Scotland - without a point from two games - can still reach the last four when they tackle the Russians on Monday.