Group A4: Joy for Spain

Spain are through to the eight-team UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship in May 2002 after winning their third qualifying round group, but Norway face a nervous wait to see if they will also progress to the finals in Sweden.

Spain in finals
Hosting the group in Tenerife, Spain left it until the final match to qualify, and will now join Sweden, France, Denmark, Switzerland, and England in the finals, with two berths still up for grabs.

Nervous wait
Norway are hoping that the second-placed team in the to-be-played Group A2 finish on less than five points or score less than five goals if points are level. That group's winners will complete the championship lineup.

First match drawn
Group A4's opening match was between the teams eventually to exit the tournament - Belgium and Yugoslavia. The latter nation scored what proved to be their only goal of the round after 17 minutes through Kesna Smiljkovic, but Belgium's Niki De Cock equalised eight minutes after half-time, the game ending 1-1.

Spain lead short-lived
Norway and Spain then met in what proved to be the decisive match. The home side drew first blood after 27 minutes when Erika Vazquez Morales struck, but almost immediately Norway levelled the scores thanks to Lise-Marie Woods, and at half-time nothing separated the two sides.

Nilsen saves Norway
On 65 minutes, having made two changes not long before, Spain restored their lead with a goal from Maria-Jose Perez Gonzalez. With 15 minutes remaining Reidun Nilsen made it 2-2 and gave Norway a valuable point.

Three-goal opening
It was in the next set of fixtures that Spain moved into the outright lead in the group, with a storming 5-0 win over Yugoslavia. Three goals in the opening 24 minutes from Morales, Arrate Oreuta Olabarria and Gonzales left the host side in total command and virtually ended any hope Yugoslavia had of progress. Spain added a fourth through Priscila Borja Moreno and goal number five was scored by Saray Garcia Garcia.

Norway draw again
The pressure was then on Norway and Belgium but when they met later that day neither could score a winning goal as they fought out a 1-1 draw. Woods gave Norway the lead with a penalty five minutes before half-time, but substitute Jessica Bijhens levelled on 70 minutes.

Win or bust
Norway went into their final game against Yugoslavia knowing nothing less than a win would do - and hoping that Spain would slip up against Belgium. Norway kept their end of the bargain with a 2-0 win over a Yugoslavia side still reeling from their drubbing by Spain. Woods scored her third goal of the round after 34 minutes to put Norway ahead, and the victory was secured on 65 minutes through Ann Mariell Storvold, in her only start of the tournament.

Spain clinch group
But Norway soon learned that their win was in vain, as Spain secured a spot in Sweden with a 2-1 defeat of Belgium, who were unable to come from behind to draw as they had done in their previous games.

Belgium knocked out
Spain settled their nerves after nine minutes thanks to Iraia Iturregui Sustaxa's goal, but were pegged back on 35 minutes by Sophie Mannaert's equaliser. This time, though, Belgium could not hold on for a 1-1 draw. Morales's third goal in as many games just before the break proving to be Spain's winner, and group clincher.

Swiss delight
These results left Switzerland celebrating along with Spain - the Group A1 runners-up's six points now confirmed as enough to take them to Sweden. Norway must now wait and hope results in Group A2 go their way.