Germany undone by deadly Danilova

By Kevin Ashby at ZTE stadium

Elena Danilova scored a second successive hat-trick as Russia qualified for their first UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship final by defeating Germany 3-1 in Zalaegerszeg.

Remarkable recovery
The Russia No9 took her tournament tally to six in the 43rd minute and added her seventh and eighth goals with further opportunist strikes in the second half after Célia Okoyino Da Mbabi's 44th-minute leveller. The victory completed a remarkable change in fortunes for Valentin Grishin's side after they lost to the same opposition 8-0 at the same stage in last season's edition, as well as losing their opening game here 4-0 to France.

Scuffed shot
Grishin selected the same team which had completed a passage to the last four by defeating Scotland 5-0 on Monday, while Maren Meinert restored Fatmire Bajramaj, Simone Laudehr and captain Patricia Hanebeck to her side despite a 3-1 victory against Finland on the same day. Okoyino Da Mbabi was Germany's most potent player as they won Group A and perhaps should have found one of the corners of the net rather than Russia goalkeeper Elvira Todua after just three minutes

Opening goal
Another 20 minutes had passed before Tessa Rinkes was called into action, Danilova racing on to Victoria Afanasova's dummy and firing off a shot which the goalkeeper touched over. The intensity of the game increased as the temperature did opposite and in the 41st minute Okoyino Da Mbabi again picked out Todua from a central position near the penalty spot. Danilova was not so profligate from her first opening two minutes later, poking the ball under Rinkes after Janina Haye had misjudged a hopeful long ball.

Four chances
It was the first time Germany had fallen behind in a WU19 match since last year's final in Finland, although they were not in arrears for long with Okoyino Da Mbabi finally finding the net with a sweetly-struck low drive from 20 metres straight from the restart. Russian confidence remained undiminished, however, and they created four openings in a seven-minute spell before the hour: Ksenia Tsybutovich powerfully heading a corner wide and Rinkes saving from Morozova, Danilova and Afanasova.

Precise drive
Germany had a couple of half-chances through Okoyino Da Mbabi and Hanebeck before Russia scored the second goal their more positive approach merited in the 65th minute. Afanasova and Olga Petrova linked up beautifully to tee up Danilova who beat Rinkes with another precise drive. Things could have got worse for Germany soon after as Danilova, Afanasova and Elena Morozova all choose to pontificate rather than shoot.

Hat-trick
Having got used to dominating games at this level, Germany had surprisingly few answers as Elena Terekhova majestically dictated the tempo of the game for Russia. It was no surprise then that Russia, and Danilova, scored a third in added time, the striker racing on to Morozova's chip and smashing the ball beyond Rinkes to clinch a date with France at this same stadium on Sunday evening.