UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Finland beat Netherlands to top Group 3

Kaisa Collin's goal helped Finland to defeat the Netherlands on the final day of qualifying round Group 3 and ensure they progressed as winners ahead of the Dutch.

Netherlands progressed in second place
Netherlands progressed in second place ©Frédéric de Laminne

Finland defeated the Netherlands on the final day of the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship qualifying round Group 3 to top the section ahead of the Dutch and secure progress to the elite stage.

After the first two rounds of the mini-tournament in Ukraine, the Netherlands were hot favourites to progress as winners after two comprehensive victories. However, Kaisa Collin struck the only goal of the decider in first-half added time to secure a Finnish win and take Marko Saloranta's team into the elite round as victors.

Maria van Kortenhof's Dutch team set the early pace with a 4-1 success against hosts Ukraine on the opening day. After just three minutes Vita Van Der Linden put the Dutch ahead and they were 3-0 up by the break, as Suzanne Admiraal and Lisanne Van Gurp added to the scoreline. Tetiana Levytska responded for Ukraine but Sippie Folkertsma rounded off a win which installed the Netherlands at the head of the group.

Finland and Slovakia could not be separated as they began in the Ukrayina Stadion. Veera Kauppi and captain Olga Ahtinen helped the Finns come back from two goals down to earn a point. They found form on matchday two, though, with substitute Amanda Rantanen hitting two in a 3-0 win against Ukraine. However, that result was not enough to pull them level with the Dutch, whose serene progress continued with a dominant 4-0 win against Slovakia. Van Gurp was the star as a second-half hat-trick powered her team to a dominant position ahead of the final day, but they could not hold on to top spot.

Slovakia ended in third as they played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with the hosts in their final game.