Germany seal early progress

By Kevin Ashby at Buk stadium

Germany will tackle Finland for overall Group A supremacy on Monday after joining the Scandinavian side in the semi-finals of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship by defeating Switzerland 5-2.

All to play for
Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi, Anna Blässe (2), Simone Laudehr and Annika Niemeier were on target for Germany, with Vanessa Bürki and Vanessa Bernauer briefly giving the Swiss hope by wiping out a two-goal deficit. Switzerland and hosts Hungary, who also meet in two days' time, could yet qualify for a 5th/6th place play-off for the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, depending on results in the other pool.

Play positively
Following the 4-2 loss to Finland, Switzerland coach Claudio Taddei acknowledged that his side had little choice but to play positively here in Buk: an approach which saw him field the three players he had brought on on Wednesday - Bernauer, Andrea Michel and Valérie Zürny. Bürki gave an indication of the threat she would pose in the third minute, forcing Tessa Rinkes to race off her line and flick the ball from the feet of the on-rushing forward.

Laudehr chances
That proved to be a rare moment of early concern for Meinert as Laudehr worked three openings inside the opening quarter-hour. Although the winger was wide of the mark on each occasion, it was from her tenth-minute raid down the left and low cross that Okoyino Da Mbabi touched in the opening goal from an unchallenged position three metres from goal.

Vicious cross
The tall No6 had both volleyed and headed over similarly decent opportunities when Blässe doubled the lead on 35 minutes. Laudehr was again the creator, tearing down her sideline before delivering a vicious low centre which the striker dispatched powerfully after it rebounded into her path via goalkeeper Stenia Michel - standing in for the suspended Swiss No1 Gaëlle Thalmann.

Bürki reply
The Swiss hauled themselves straight back into contention as Bürki toe-poked the ball beyond Rinkes to cap a sweet move involving Katrin Eggenberger and Martina Moser. Eggenberger was also involved in the 50th-minute equaliser, collecting a clever free-kick on the edge of the area, turning and firing in a dipping shot which Rinkes pushed on to the bar. Bernauer reacted first, stooping to head in via the post.

Comfortable finish
Patricia Hanebeck and Sandy Maendly both went close in the eleven minutes which preceded Germany's third goal just past the hour. Caroline Abbé was adjudged to have handled a shot and Laudehr stepped up to drive in a free-kick which deflected wickedly off Moser to leave Michel flat-footed. That proved the cue for a comfortable finish for Germany, who struck further goals through Blässe and Niemeier in the final 14 minutes.