England came from behind to defeat Serbia 4-1 and book a UEFA Women’s U17 Championship semi-final against Germany.
John Griffiths’s side won their opening two Group A matches – a 3-2 victory over Norway and a 12-0 demolition of hosts Belarus – meaning they only needed a draw or a narrow-margin loss against Serbia to seal a spot in the last four.
The Young Lionesses fell behind to Miljana Ivanovic’s goal on the stroke of half-time.
England 4-1 Serbia
UEFA Women's U17 Championship
Group A
Tuesday 10 May 2016
Traktor Stadium, Minsk, Belarus
They came roaring back in the second half and were level just seven minutes after the restart when captain Georgia Stanway scored her second goal in four days, from the penalty spot, to level matters after she had been felled by Ivana Trbojevic.
But it was Isidora Vuckovic’s red card that really turned the match in England’s favour. The Serbia defender was dismissed for a foul on Ellie Brazil – who put England ahead just six minutes later.
A player to the good, Griffiths’s charges turned the screw and added two more goals, from Niamh Charles and substitute Hannah Cain – on for Alessia Russo – before the final whistle.
England will now take on Germany, runners-up in Group B, on Friday in the Lionesses' first Euro semi-final since 2013.
The two finalists and the winners of the third-place play-off will qualify for the FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup in Jordan in September.
England (4-2-3-1): 13 Katie Startup (Gillingham); 2 Flo Allen (Bristol City), 12 Anna Patten (Arsenal), 5 Grace Smith (Aston Villa), 3 Taylor Hinds (Arsenal); 18 Anna Filbey (Arsenal), 4 Hollie Olding (Brighton & Hove Albion); 7 Alessia Russo (Chelsea), 10 Georgia Stanway (capt; Manchester City), 11 Niamh Charles (Liverpool); 9 Ellie Brazil (Birmingham City), 16 Ella Toone (Blackburn Rovers).
Substitutes: 15 Lois Joel (Chelsea) for Allen 50, 17 Hannah Cain (Sheffield FC) for Russo 67, 8 Laura Hooper (Arsenal) for Filbey 73.
Substitutes not used: 1 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City), 6 Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), 14 Kelsey Pearson (Blackburn Rovers).
Goals: Stanway pen 47, Brazil 68, Charles 71, Cain 76.
Bookings: Russo
Head coach: John Griffiths
Referee: Tess Olofsson (Sweden)
