Germany toast Mittag treble

By Kevin Ashby at the Kauniainen Sport Park

A sumptuous Anja Mittag hat-trick booked Germany a place in the semi-finals of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship and ended Switzerland's chances of doing so with victory in Kauniainen.

Terrific free-kick
Despite the lop-sided nature of the scoreline, Switzerland acquitted themselves well in an exciting game which served as a great advert for football at this level. Tessa Rinkes had already denied the Swiss on more than one occasion when Annike Krahn headed Germany in front. Three Mittag goals after the break - one a cheeky back-heel, one a terrific free-kick - guaranteed a second 4-0 success for Silvia Neid's team and a place in the FIFA Under-19 Women's Championship.

Same team
Neid fielded the same team which defeated Finland 4-0 in their opening game, while Daniela Künzler captained a Swiss side which included two changes to that beaten 3-1 by Spain on her 19th birthday. Her twin sister, Mélanie, was one of those to make way. The goalkeepers were to the fore early on, with Switzerland's Stenia Michel racing off her line to prevent Simone Laudehr converting Lena Goessling's deft pass.

Dazzling run
Her opposite number, Tessa Rinkes, was doing the same moments later after Vanessa Bürki had beaten the German offside trap, diving at the feet of the dangerous forward and forcing her to shoot wide. Bürki's growing confidence was epitomised by a dazzling 17th-minute run which left Elena Hauer and Peggy Kuznik on the turf and saw Rinkes save smartly down to her right.

Goalmouth scramble
That effort lifted the Swiss, who should have taken the lead through Martina Moser in the 21st minute, only for the right-winger to blaze a shot high and wide after the ball broke conveniently following a goalmouth scramble. Bürki then shot clipped a shot straight at Rinkes after latching on to Lara Dickenmann's precise through-ball.

Inventive set-pieces
Germany had tried some inventive set-pieces before they scored from one in the 40th minute, Krahn heading a Melanie Behringer centre across goal and into the corner of the net after the right-winger had won a free-kick near the by-line. Having scored at one end, Krahn was perilously close to putting through her own net when slicing an attempted clearance goalwards in the 54th minute.

Mittag's first
Switzerland could not build on that near miss, though, and fell 2-0 behind in the 63rd minute when Behringer dispossessed Künzler and cut the ball back for Mittag to turn it past Stenia. The Swiss passed by a glorious opportunity to haul themselves back into the game as Bürki drilled the ball against the post with the goal at her mercy after Isabella Meyer had dispossed Rinkes who was too casual in possession.

Leaading scorer
It proved to be Switzerland's final chance as Mittag brilliantly back-heeled Goessling's cross from the left beyond the flat-footed Michel in the 79th minute. The keeper was similarly outfoxed soon after as Mittag stroked a free-kick from just outside the area into the top corner to move to the summit of the leading goalscorers' chart.

Most Valuable Player: Anja Mittag (Germany)
Attendance: 440