Report: Germany 1-0 England WU17s

England women’s under-17s were defeated 1-0 by Germany in the UEFA Women’s Under-17 European Championship in Northern Ireland.

Having beaten the tournament hosts in the first round of fixtures, another three points would have secured the Young Lionesses’ passage into the semi-finals of the competition, though a slow start made two wins from two look a difficult task in Larne.

Sabine Loderer’s side would quickly see their best chance to go ahead as captain Johanna Hebben snapped up the opportunity from the spot to make it 1-0, after Zoe Ciccardini conceded a foul on Clara Choisy.

Germany could, and probably should have added their second when a cross from the right was closely watched by Muriel Dürr, who got under the ball and stroked the crossbar from close range.

England were finding the conditions hard to weather against the competition’s record winners and were made to wait until the 36th minute to register a proper attempt towards goal.

Ciccardini headed down for Lucy Robinson inside the six-yard area, whose low shot was sent the wrong side of the post as Kerri Welsh’s team pushed for the leveller.

The lead meant that the Young Lionesses took more risks and only the woodwork went in the way of an England equaliser after Mia Dixon had made progress from a similar angle.

The pressure continued to be heaped on after the break from Welsh’s side, though Fiona Itgenshorst did have an effort clear the crossbar to remind the Young Lionesses of their attacking power.

England responded with a couple of chances of their own, but neither could beat a mixture of the goalkeeper’s frame and the German backline.

There was still plenty of time for the Young Lionesses to continue their 100 per cent record in the competition down from the qualifiers though, and Phoebe De Bohan went closest to getting the important goal when her curler was tipped over by the German ‘keeper.

Her opposite number was then called into action to keep out Marie Kleeman’s fierce effort from the left, her second in as many moments, as Germany looked to put the result beyond doubt.

England had any hope for a share of the points erased when the offside flag went up on De Bohan, who thought she had rescued a point when the Arsenal forward had the ball in the back of the net with three minutes remaining on the clock.

It means the Young Lionesses will now have to wait until Sunday to be in with a chance of qualification for the tournament's semi-finals when they face Norway (3pm BST).

England: 1 Evie Mitchell (Manchester United), 2 Zoe Ciccardini (Chelsea), 3 Katie Scott © (Aston Villa), 4 Romia Gagliano (FC Basel), 5 Lucy Robinson (Manchester United), 6 Amarachukwu Nwankwo (Manchester City), 8 Bryony Brodie (Arsenal), 10 Kyri Teer-Hutchins (Arsenal), 11 Mia Dixon (Arsenal), 18 Phoebe De Bohan (Arsenal), 19 Chelsea N’Drin (Liverpool)

Substitutes: 17 Sophia Burton (Manchester City) for Teer-Hutchins 62’, 9 Freya Hirons (Manchester City) for N’Drin 78’, 14 Gabriella Storey (Chelsea) for Gagliano 87’

Substitutes not used: 7 Cairo Antoine (Arsenal),12 Maisie Brickell (Chelsea), 13 Vicky Rudz (Chelsea), 15 Isabella Cowley (Arsenal), 16 Lottie Day (Sheffield United), 20 Abbie Jones (Sheffield United)

Head coach: Kerri Welsh