Sweden strike for honours
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Article summary
Sweden took the honours in a four-team tournament in the Netherlands with Switzerland finishing runners-up after knocking out Germany.
Article body
Sweden took the honours in the latest four-team tournament in the Netherlands ahead of the inaugural UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship nest season - with Germany in the unfamiliar position of fourth.
Germany shocked
On the opening day Sweden and the hosts were matched, and Julia Lyckberg's 47th-minute goal gave the Scandinavian nation victory. In the other semi-final, Germany took a 13th-minute lead against Switzerland through Selina Wagner. However Switzerland, who unlike Germany were fielding a team young enough to be eligible for the 2007/08 U17 tournament, equalising with five minutes to go through Stéphanie Capomolla and then won it at the death with a goal from Lara Keller.
Sweden triumph
Germany then missed out on third place today as Vanity Lewerissa gave the Netherlands victory. Sweden took the lead nine minutes into the final through Antonia Göransson, but Annina Spahr swiftly levelled. In the 55th minute Sanna Svensson restored the Swedish advantage and Amanda Fredriksson clinched a 3-1 victory and the trophy. Marie Bengtsson's side, who beat Norway 3-1 last month, now visit their neighbours to play in the annual Nordic Tournament in Norway from 2-7 July, where they are in a group with the hosts, the Netherlands and Iceland, and the other pool will involve Germany, France, Finland and Denmark. EURO qualifying begins in September.