England must avoid defeat to Norway in Monday’s final Women’s European Under-17 Championship final group game to reach the semi-finals, following their narrow defeat to Netherlands.
The Lionesses went ahead through Aimee Palmer on 38 minutes, but were pegged back on the stroke of half-time by Jill Baijings.
It looked as though John Griffiths’ team, who beat Republic of Ireland 5-1 in their Group B opener, were set to add another point to their tally, until Romee Leuchter pounced three minutes from time to send Netherlands through to the last four.
England and Norway, who beat Republic of Ireland 1-0, are now level on three points apiece ahead of Monday’s final group match.
Lauren Hemp hit the crossbar from out wide on 16 minutes and, at the other end, keeper Hannah Hampton pushed Leuchter’s drive on the post after half an hour.
The Lionesses breakthrough came when Palmer’s rifled effort from the edge of the box bounced in off the crossbar.
But parity was soon restored when Baijing struck the crossbar, but was first to the loose ball to prod beyond Hampton.
After the break, Griffiths team hit the woodwork for a third time – Nicole Douglas the latest to be denied when her free-kick bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Though the Dutch goal had been living a charmed life, it was they who nabbed maximum points when Leuchter turned in substitute Shanique Dessing’s corner.
England: 1 Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City); 12 Grace Neville (Millwall), 6 Esme Morgan (Manchester City), 5 Shannon Cooke (Arsenal), 3 Poppy Pattinson (Sunderland); 8 Miri Taylor (Chelsea), 4 Aimee Palmer (Bristol City), 10 Emily Syme (Bristol City); 16 Ella Rutherford (Millwall), 11 Lauren Hemp (capt; Bristol City), 17 Jessica Ngunga (Arsenal)
Substitutes: 14 Amy Rodgers (Liverpool) for Taylor 46, 7 Nicole Douglas (Chelsea) for Rutherford 52, 18 Beth O’Donnell (Manchester City) for Syme 75
Substitutes not used: 2 Meg Boydell (Liverpool), 9 Gabby Ravenscroft (Oxford United), 15 Olivia Smith (Chelsea)
Goals: Palmer 38
Coach: John Griffiths
