Austria 1-0 England
 
UEFA Under 17 Championship Semi-Final
Saturday 17th May 2003
Municipal - Santa Comba Dão
2.30pm kick off

Following the disappointment of a semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat against Portugal on Wednesday evening, England finished the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in fourth place after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Austria in the third-place play-off in Santa Comba Dao.

Though in charge for much of the game, John Peacock's side squandered a number of chances and were made to pay when Daniel Pirker scored the decisive goal for Austria shortly after the break and condemn England to their first defeat - in normal time - since September.

Tom Huddlestone almost put England in front on the third minute, but his free-kick was well saved by goalkeeper Robert Olejnik. Then on 21 minutes Norwich striker Ryan Jarvis came closebut he was unable to finish Dean Bowditch's through ball despite being clean through on goal.

Austria had their first, and only real, opportunity during the first forty when Franz Schiemer failed to convert Konig's 25th minute cross glancing his header past the post .

After the break however, Austria looked stronger and on the 52nd minute grabbed the only goal of the game. Patrick Mayer's defelceted free-kick was finished from close-range Pirker.

Nathan Doyle could have levelled matters with four minutes remaining, but his effort from distance was well blocked.

Afterwards John Peacock explained his disappointment. "It was a pity to finish in fourth place," he said. "Emotionally we were still feeling the consequences of being defeated by Portugal in the shoot-out in the semi-finals. We had two or three great scoring opportunities and didn't take them. A goal would have boosted our confidence."

England: Heaton, Ifil, Huddlestone, S. Taylor, Morrison, Bowditch, McMahon, Doyle, Jarvis, Forte, A. Taylor
Substitutes: Giddings, Lennon, Leadbitter, Moore, Martin, Milner

Goals: Pirker 52