Sabel sends Germany through

A first-half penalty from captain Anne Sabel was enough for Germany to earn a place in the final of the inaugural UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship at the expense of a gallant England side.

Pushed all the way
Germany, winners of the last two UEFA European Women's U-18 Championships, the precursor to this event, were favourites to progress to Sunday's final after winning all three of their Group A matches but England, second behind Denmark in Group B, pushed them all the way in an even contest at the Landskrona IP stadium.

Fierce wind
England played with a fierce wind behind them in a first half in which they dominated possession but rarely threatened Miriam Elling in the Germany goal with their long-range shooting. Anja Mittag, the Germany forward, hit the first chance of the match into the side-netting after outpacing the England defence, while Ellen Maggs also went close for England with a brilliant spin and volley which whistled just over the bar in the eleventh minute.

McDougall impressive
Maggs and Kelly McDougall were England's most productive players in the first half and McDougall's 27th-minute shot went just wide after she had evaded the challenges of two German players in the centre of the park. It was from the resulting goal-kick that Germany scored what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Undeserved lead
Elling's long ball fell at the feet of Mittag who controlled it well and found Annelie Brendel in acres of space down the right flank. The skilful winger carried the ball into the England box and nudged it past goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne who upended her for a penalty and a yellow card. Sabel stepped up to send Wayne the wrong way from the spot to give Germany what both coaches later said was an undeserved lead.

Brilliant block
Katy Ward, fresh from two goals against Switzerland, had a chance to level soon after but Sarah Günther brilliantly blocked her powerful shot from close range. The same player was presented with England's best chance of the period in the 36th minute after the wind carried the ball over the head of Susanne Kasperczyk, but Ward's lob went harmlessly wide with just Elling to beat.

First chance
The half-time introduction of Viola Odebrecht, Germany's central midfield dynamo, saw the reigning champions improve after the break but they still failed to produce the form which saw them defeat France, Spain and Sweden in their three group matches. The first opening worthy of the name in the second half arrived 20 minutes in but Maggs headed wide when well-placed from a Corinne Yorston centre.

Sabel hits post
Stefanie Weichelt had a great chance to put the game beyond England in the 69th minute, ten minutes after replacing Mittag, but she overran the ball after breaking clear of the England back-line. Sabel nearly doubled Germany's advantage and her personal tally four minutes from time but her curling free-kick struck the bottom of Wayne's left-hand post with the keeper beaten.

'England one step ahead'
It proved to be the last opportunity of a game in which Silvia Neid admitted, "England were better in both halves and deserved to win". The Germany coach continued: "I am happy that we are in the final but I am not satisfied with my team's display. We were not the better team and if we play like that in the final the other team will show us how to play football. England were one step ahead of us in every position and I am ashamed of our victory."

European champions?
Neid's praise will be some comfort to England ahead of this summer's FIFA Women's U-19 World Cup, a competition in which Germany will represent UEFA as European champions if they account for either Denmark or France, the other semi-finalists, in Helsingborg.

'Absolutely tremendous'
England coach Mo Marley was "delighted" with her side's display. "The performance was absolutely tremendous," she said. "We were a little nervous in our two previous games but we gave a true account of ourselves today in a very mature display. We had a game plan and stuck to it. We created chances against a brilliant Germany side but didn't take them and that is the difference at this level."