Norway overcome Russia challenge

Norway pipped Russia to UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship first qualifying round Group 4 top spot after a final-day decider in Lithuania.

Before the game, Norway were ahead on goal difference having beaten Slovenia 4-1 and Lithuania 11-0 while Russia defeated those sides 4-2 and 2-0. In the decider, a 52nd-minute Amalie Eikeland goal and late Therese Åsland clincher gave Norway a 2-0 win to propel them into the 15 November second qualifying round draw.

In that decider, Ine Wedaa and Synne Jensen stood out for Norway in leading the line while Åsland was superb on the left, underlining their side's superiority in all three games. However, on 67 minutes Elina Samoilovadid hit the bar for Russia.

On day one, Synne Jensen's first-half goal for Norway was cancelled out by Slovenia's Marija Rupreht six minutes into the second period but Wedaa swiftly restored the lead and captain Lisa Naalsund struck twice to clinch victory. Samoilova and Anna Belomyttseva were Russia's scorers against Lithuania.

Two days later Eikeland scored four and Wedaa managed a hat-trick for Norway against Slovenia while Elmira Piskunova's treble was the key for Russia in their defeat of Lithuania. Slovenia took third place by beating Lithuania 4-0. Russia could still go into the second qualifying round in spring as one of the four runners-up with the best records against the sides first and third in their group.