England’s UEFA Women’s U19 Championship finals campaign was brought to a premature end after a 2-0 loss to Spain.
After defeats by Sweden and Republic of Ireland, Brent Hills’s side had to win their final Group B game by two clear goals and hope Ireland beat Sweden to have any chance of making the semi-finals.
And while the Irish kept up their side of the bargain, the Young Lions were unable to find a way past a Spanish team that contained a number of players from their U17 side that finished runners-up at last year's Euros.
England 0-2 Spain
UEFA Women's U19 Championship finals
Group B
Monday 21 July 2014
Strommen, Norway
Spain's Maria Diaz hit the woodwork in the first half but the two sides went in goalless at the break.
But her side went ahead just before the hour mark when Sonia Fraile fired Celia Jiménez’s cutback through a crowded box and into the back of the net.
And Nahikari García sealed the win, and Spain’s progress to the last four, with 11 minutes to go.
However, despite the disappointment of exiting the Euros at the group stage, this experience could prove vital as all but one member of this England squad can represent the U19s again next season.
England (4-3-3): 1 Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City); 11 Ashleigh Mills (Doncaster Rovers Belles), 3 Molly Bartrip (C; Reading), 12 Elisha N'Dow (Aston Villa), 2 Rosella Ayane (Chelsea); 6 Jenna Dear (Chelsea); 10 Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa), 17 Millie Turner (Everton); 18 Claudia Walker (Liverpool), 7 Coral Haines (Birmingham City), 8 Carla Humphrey (Arsenal).
Substitutes: 5 Maddy Cusack (Aston Villa) for Haines (63), 14 Jemma Purfield (Doncaster Rovers Belles) for Humphrey (79), 9 Rebecca Lloyd (Birmingham City) for N’Dow (83).
Substitutes not used: 13 Kirstie Levell (Everton), 4 Jodie Brett (Chelsea), 15 Vyan Sampson (Arsenal), 16 Fran Steele (Arsenal).
Booking: Dear (81)
