Last-gasp Whelan denies Poland

England captain Fern Whelan scored a 94th-minute equaliser to deny Poland victory on the opening day of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship, the Group B game in Reykjavik ending in a 1-1 draw.

Last gasp
Poland had taken a 12th-minute lead when defender Jayne Eadie put through her own goal, and time appeared to have run out on Mo Marley's team until Whelan rose highest to head in the second ball following a Sophie Walton free-kick.

Goalkeeper wrongfooted
England arguably deserved their lucky break having fallen behind against the run of play – Eadie chesting the ball back to her goalkeeper Danielle Hill who, wrongfooted, could only watch it roll past her and into the net. England resumed on the front foot but wasted chances towards half-time as Ellen White and Sophie Walton both failed to trouble Poland goalkeeper Anna Bocian.

Poland debut
Robert Góralczyk's side emerged from the interval emboldened by their advantage, and on their U19 finals debut began to take the contest to their more experienced opponents. However, they were unable to make the most of their greater share of the possession and, as the match neared the 70th-minute mark, the Poles conceded the territorial initiative back to England.

Late reward
Marley played her part too, switching to a three-man defence to enhance her team's attacking options. They were almost rewarded when Jessica Clarke shot towards an open goal on 83 minutes, only for Natasha Dowie to apply a late touch and cause the referee's assistant to raise the offside flag. Poland's reprieve was temporary, however. When Walton's free-kick was nodded back across goal deep into stoppage time, Whelan made an intervention that proved happily decisive for her side.