England suffered an agonising penalty shoot-out defeat by Italy which means they miss out on a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup.
The European Championship third-place play-off in Burton had finished goalless after 90 minutes, but Marta Vergani slammed home the Italians’ fifth spot-kick to make it 4-3 on penalties and seal a place in Costa Rica in March.
England Head Coach Lois Fidler had targeted World Cup qualification at the start of these home finals and her Young Lions will feel desperately unlucky to have lost out by the narrowest of margins.
England 0-0 Italy
(Italy win 4-3 on penalties)
UEFA Women's U17 Championship
Third-place Play-Off
Sunday 8 December 2013
Burton Albion FC
However, they can take heart from their two deserved group wins over Austria and Portugal and from an improved performance against an Italian side they narrowly lost to in the opening game.
Italy had two good chances to take an early lead, just as they did in that group match two weeks ago.
First, a Gloria Marinelli header was turned behind by England goalkeeper Kirstie Levell and then Martina Piemonte hooked Lisa Boattin’s deep corner just past the upright from six yards out.
Arguably England’s best player in the first half was centre back Gabrielle George, who made a number of important interventions to deny the visitors a clear sight at goal. And when Annamaria Serturini did manage a shot it was straight down the centre and comfortable for Levell.
The Young Lions’ first clear opportunity came eight minutes into the second half when Sophie Stamp headed home Keira Walsh’s corner at the near post, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside to halt the celebrations.
The game had started to open up and Levell had to be on-hand once more when Marinelli cut in from the left wing, but her angled drive failed to really trouble the Everton keeper.
Italian substitute Valentina Bergamaschi should have broken the deadlock just after the hour mark but completely missed her kick when found by Serturini’s low cross.
Manuela Giugliano sent a curling effort just past Levell’s left-hand post and Walsh also tried her luck from range as the game ticked towards penalties.
Alice Hassall had the shoot-out’s opening kick saved by Francesca Durante, while Giugliano and Leah Williamson both converted their efforts to make it 2-1. Chloe Kelly then had her penalty tipped onto the post and away, allowing Marinelli to extend her side’s advantage.
Brogan McHugh reduced arrears and Durante had her effort repelled by Levell before Walsh scored to make it 3-3.
But Vergani kept her cool to crash home the winning penalty and break English hearts.
England
1 Kirstie Levell, 2 Alice Hassall, 3 Jemma Purfield, 4 Mollie Rouse, 5 Leah Williamson (C), 6 Gabrielle George, 8 Sophie Stamp (19 Brogan McHugh, 71) 9 Chloe Kelly, 10 Keira Walsh, 14 Lucy Porter, 17 Atlanta Primus (7 Evie Clarke, 41).
Substitutes not used 12 Phillippa Cowley, 13 Sian Rogers, 15 Ella Williams, 16 Rebecca Lloyd, 18 Ellie Wilkinson.
Head Coach Lois Fidler
Italy
1 Francesca Durante, 2 Marta Vergani, 3 Lisa Boattin (C), 4 Federica Cavicchia, 6 Sara Mella (14 Beatrice Abati, 59), 9 Gloria Marinelli, 10 Manuela Giugliano, 13 Nicole Peressotti, 15 Annamaria Serturini (17 Marta Mascarello, 72), 16 Federica Rizza, 18 Martina Piemonte (7 Valentina Bergamaschi, 41).
Substitutes not used 5 Laura Perin, 8 Flaminia Simonetti, 11 Valery Vigilucci, 22 Alessia Piazza.
Head Coach Enrico Sbardella
Referee Zuzana Strpkova
Attendance 530
