Superb start for Serbo-Montenegrins

Serbia and Montenegro reached the Elite round of the 2004/05 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in considerable style, clinching first place in Group 7 with three victories while Croatia also progressed comfortably.

Perfect record
The Serbo-Montenegrin side clinched the section with a maximum of nine points, with the Croatians three points adrift having lost out to Serbia and Montenegro in the final round of matches. Albania finished in third place with three points, while Andorra, who conceded 22 goals in their three games, bottom.

Quick-fire start
Croatia began at a frantic pace at the Gradski stadium in Subotica, and led Albania 3-0 by the 20th minute with Damir Vidovic, Krešo Ljubicic and Nikola Kalinic all on target. Although Mirel Cota pulled a goal back before half-time and Thoma Zmarkalli further cut the deficit 12 minutes from time, Croatia held on for the win.

Hit for six
Mini-tournament hosts Serbia and Montenegro began in more emphatic fashion, brushing aside Andorra 6-0 at the FK Tavankut stadium. Nenad Marinkovic scored twice inside the first 20 minutes, Miloš Karišik added a third from the penalty spot in the 38th minute and Slobodan Lakicevic made it 4-0 a minute before half-time. Although Rodoljub Marjanovic made it five three minutes after the restart, Serbia and Montenegro managed only one more goal, from Miloš Živanovic with 12 minutes remaining.

Progress assured
Both teams who had recorded victories on Matchday 1 duly won again in the second round of matches to book their berths in the Elite round with a game still to play. Croatia ran riot against the Andorrans, scoring eleven times without reply with Kalinic finding the net five times in the first half alone. Ljubicic and Stipe Glasovic were also on target in the first 45 minutes, with Tomislav Šorša twice, Milan Badelj and Mislav Radoš all scoring in the second period.

First-half dominance
Serbia and Montenegro recorded a 4-1 victory against Albania at the Gradski stadium, and had again wrapped up the points before the interval. Polizoi Arberi's own goal gave Tomislav Sivic's side a third-minute lead, before Goran Antelj scored either side of Lakicevic's 25th-minute effort to make the score 4-0 by the 34th minute. Enco Malindi scored a consolation for the Albanians four minutes past the hour.

Decisive victory
Serbia and Montenegro met Croatia at the Gradski stadium in the third and final round of matches to decided which would finish first in the section. Miloš Bosancic opened the scoring midway through the first half, only for Kalinic to equalise from the penalty spot ten minutes before half-time. Marinkovic restored Serbia and Montenegro's lead six minutes into the second half, however, and Karišik's penalty 14 minutes from time effectively settled the contest.

Consolation win
There was some consolation for Albania as Shoetim Duro's side recorded their first points with a resounding 5-0 victory against Andorra. Cota scored a hat-trick, with Jahmir Hyka and Zmarkalli getting the other goals.