England are just one win away from a place in the semi-final of the UEFA Women’s U17 Championship after a 2-1 victory over Austria in Chesterfield.
A goal apiece from Ashleigh Plumptre and substitute Lucy Porter cancelled out Nina Wasserbauer’s early opener and handed Lois Fidler’s side a deserved three points.
Italy are definitely through to the last four following their 2-0 win over Portugal earlier in the day – and the Young Lions can join them with a draw in the final group game against the Portuguese on Monday.
England 2-1 Austria
UEFA Women's U17 Euro Finals
Group A
Friday 29 November 2013
Proact Stadium, Chesterfield FC
England started with the same eleven from the group opener on Tuesday and Evie Clarke tested the Austrian keeper early on, but her 20-yard shot was straight down the middle and Carolin Größinger gathered with ease.
Neither side had taken control of the game when the visitors went ahead in the 15th minute.
The ball bounced around the box from an Austrian free-kick and Wasserbauer converted low into the corner, albeit via a deflection on the edge of the six-yard box.
England came again, though, and Chloe Kelly headed a Plumptre cross wide just after the restart.
Plumptre, the Derby County winger, went one better shortly after and levelled with a header from Keira Walsh’s left-sided free-kick.
This goal gave the hosts the momentum and some nice footwork on the edge of the box from Clarke then presented the Young Lions with a decent chance to take the lead, but Größinger was off her line quickly to deny Kelly.
Both sides started the second half brightly with Austria’s Viktoria Pinther and England’s Walsh firing long-range efforts just off target.
Fidler introduced Porter for Clarke just before the hour and the Aston Villa midfielder made an almost instant impact.
The impressive Walsh scampered down the right and delivered a low cross into the box. The ball evaded everyone and Porter was on-hand to convert from close range at the back post – and hand her side a well-earned victory.
A draw on Monday and England will book their place in the semi-finals.
England
1 Kirstie Levell, 2 Alice Hassall, 3 Jemma Purfield, 4 Mollie Rouse, 5 Leah Williamson (C), 6 Gabrielle George, 7 Evie Clarke (14 Lucy Porter, 56), 8 Sophie Stamp, 9 Chloe Kelly, 10 Keira Walsh (17 Atlanta Primus 80), 11 Ashleigh Plumptre (18 Ellie Wilkinson, 41).
Substitutes not used 12 Phillippa Cowley, 13 Sian Rogers, 15 Ella Williams, 16 Rebecca Lloyd.
Head Coach Lois Fidler
Austria
1 Carolin Größinger, 6 Adina Hamidovic, 7 Barbara Dunst (C), 9 Katharina Naschenweng, 10 Marina Georgieva, 11 Nina Wasserbauer, 14 Julia Kofler, 15 Viktoria Pinther (13 Melissa Schmid, 64), 17 Teresa Knauseder, 18 Anna Egretzberger, 19 Ivana Feric.
Substitutes not used 21 Isabella Kresche, 3 Anna Zimmerebner, 4 Selina Mandl, 8 Sandrine Sobotka, 16 Jasmin Ortner.
Head Coach Dominik Thalhammer
Referee Lina Lehtovaara
Attendance 2,011
