Match report: England WU19s 0-3 Germany

England WU19s suffered a 3-0 defeat against Germany in a result which saw both teams exit the U19 EUROs.

With Norway beating Sweden 1-0 in the other match to top the group, it meant the Young Lionesses needed to win their third Group B game if they were to qualify.

But goals from Sarah Mattner in both halves and another from Sofie Zdebel ensured it was the Germans who would be victorious.

Gemma Davies made four changes to the starting line-up, as the injured Ruby Mace plus Lucy Parry, Lucia Kendall and Lucy Watson made way for Mia Ross, Anouk Denton, Maisie Symonds and Freya Gregory.

The match started at breakneck speed, with seven attempts at goal in the opening quarter of an hour.

Aggie Beever-Jones and Symonds had efforts saved and blocked on the line respectively, but Germany also had excellent chances, as Khiara Keating saved from close range and then low down to her right in the space of a minute.

The regularity of the clear-cut chances reduced as the half wore on but Germany took the lead shortly before half-time.

Keating did well to save the initial shot from Mia Buchele but the ball fell to Mattner and she applied the finish from close range.

England almost gifted Germany a second within 30 seconds of the restart, as Tara Bourne’s pass was intercepted by Felicitas Kockmann but her strike went over the bar.

Germany continued to dominate the game but with Norway drawing to Sweden in the other match, it looked as though the Young Lionesses would only need one goal and the draw to progress.

But when Norway took the lead with 12 minutes remaining, it meant Davies’ side needed to score twice if they were to make the semi-finals.

However, it was the opposition who were to get the late goals as a superb tackle from Symonds saw the ball roll to Zdebel on the edge of the area and her shot arrowed into the top corner.

And it was followed by a third for Germany deep into injury time as Mattner slid the ball into the bottom corner when through on goal.

England: 1 Khiara Keating (Manchester City), 2 Jorja Fox (Chelsea), 6 Tara Bourne (Manchester United), 14 Mia Ross (Charlton Athletic), 3 Anouk Denton (University of Louisville); 8 Maisie Symonds (Brighton and Hove Albion), 4 Charlotte Wardlaw (Chelsea) ©, 19 Laura Blindkilde Brown (Aston Villa); 7 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), 10 Grace Clinton (Everton), 11 Freya Gregory (Aston Villa)

Substitutes: 18 Lucy Watson (Sheffield United) for Gregory 77’, 20 Olivia McLoughlin (Aston Villa) for Wardlaw 85’, 15 Neve Herron (Sunderland) for Denton 90+2’, 9 Emily Murphy (University of North Carolina) for Beever-Jones 90+3’

Substitutes not used: 13 Natalia Negri (Unattached), 12 Lucy Parry (Liverpool), 16 Caitlin Smith (Clemson University), 17 Lucia Kendall (Southampton)

Bookings: Charlotte Wardlaw 82’

Head coach: Gemma Davies