Buet strike sends England through

England have qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship as Group B winners after a 1-0 victory against Spain in Reykjavik.

Decisive strike
Danielle Buet's 20th-minute goal at the KR-Völlur Stadium rewarded England for an impressive display while denying Spain the three points they needed to progress. England will now meet Norway in Thursday's semi-final with the final to follow on Sunday.

Bigger team
The teams had been separated by a solitary point going into the match, but the opening exchanges showed England to be the bigger, more physical and more athletic side. Natasha Dowie led the line and Elizabeth Edwards, Danielle Buet and Remi Allen hunted in a midfield pack. Ellen White forced an early save from Andere Leguina.

Advantage England
Spain gradually found their way. Ignacio Quereda's team gravitated towards their strongest attacker, Silvia Meseguer, whose presence enabled the smaller Raquel Peña and María Paz to join the play. However, if either side had the edge it was England and when Allen flicked Chelsea Weston's free-kick into Dowie's feet inside the Spain area, a clear chance beckoned. However, noticing a foul on Allen, the referee brought back play to award another set-piece. No matter: Danielle Buet stepped up to fire the ball past Andere and give Mo Marley's team the lead.

Spanish reply
In reply, Itsaso Navaskues chipped a half-cleared corner back towards England's goal and Silvia prompted a stop from Danielle Hill. Mari Paz responded to a slap in the face from the ball by troubling England's back line with her front-running. But with Edwards snuffing out the danger in front of her defence, and Allen sniffing out possession behind her forwards, England held sway. Dowie almost made it 2-0 after Allen flicked on a cross.

Fightback
If there had been times when the Spanish players looked unnerved by England's relentless approach during the first half, they stood up to the test in the second. Urgency entered their footballing vocabulary. Laura Requena was released by Mari Paz and after turning her marker, shot too close to Hill. Silvia dribbled to the edge of England's area before blazing over. Spain almost paid for their ambition when Jessica Clarke raced beyond centre-half Anna Servía and crossed for the unmarked Ellen White who headed against the angle. White repaid the compliment and Clarke nodded over. Silvia was again involved with two strikes inside a crowded England box. Time was running out for Spain and Marta Torrejón wasted a free header on 78 minutes. At the other end a desperate block prevented Clarke from scoring but it was not enough to save Spain.