Qualification hopes dashed
Saturday, 15 September, 2012
England Women U17s lose 4-1 to Italy to end Euro challenge.
A hat-trick from Italy’s Francesca Pittaccio ended England’s hopes of progressing to the final stage of qualifying of the UEFA European Women’s U17 Championship.
Lois Fidler’s young side came into the game on four points after drawing 0-0 with Northern Ireland on Monday and then beating Finland 5-1 on Thursday, but the Italians proved a different prospect and ran out 4-1 victors in Ballymena.
Pittaccio opened the scoring in the twelfth minute and went on to register a first-half treble before Manuela Giugliano made it 4-0.
Natasha Flint, who scored a hat-trick of her own against the Finns, pulled a goal back for the Young Lions late on but it proved a mere consolation as Northern Ireland topped the group and made it through to the Second Qualifying Round for the first ever time.