UEFA Women's U19 Final: France 2-3 Spain

Presseye
Published 20th Aug 2017

Spain scored a 90th minute winner to beat France 3-2 and win the UEFA Under-19 Women’s Championship.

The Spaniards twice had to come from behind, and all of their goals came from set pieces, with Patricia Guijarro scoring a brace, the 2nd of which was the decisive winning strike.

For long periods of the game, they were second best, and had barely settled before they found themselves trailing 1-0.

In just the 4th minute, the impressive Emelyne Laurent surged down the left flank, easily outpacing the Spanish defence.

She glided beyond her marker, and squared the ball along the 6 yard line. Mathilde Bourdieu couldn't miss and tapped home with the goalkeeper stranded.

Spain drew level from a set piece in the 18th minute.

Paula Fernández delivered a corner from the left, and Patricia Guijarro snuck in front of her marker to make contact with an outstretched left foot and poke the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

France continued to threaten when they broke down the left, and Laurent found herself involved again, rattling the bar from distance in the 22nd minute with a shot from 25 yards.

Spain were stylish and comfortable in possession, but they also squandered a rare opportunity in the 26th minute when Bonmati crossed for Oroz - but her side-footed volley was hit straight at the French goalkeeper Chavas.

Julie Thibaud’s composed passing had been the foundation of everything the French created, and it was the midfielder’s defence-splitting through ball that sent Laurent racing clear to score in the 71st minute and put them back in control.

The winger again made the most of her dazzling pace, and she had plenty of time to compose herself and calmly finish, planting the ball beyond a helpless Noelia Ramos.

The second Spanish equalizer also came courtesy of a set-piece in the 85th minute.

Damaris Egurrola flicked a header goalwards after a free kick was floated into the box, and her effort looped over Chavas. The goal injected some urgency into the Spaniards, and they were further emboldened when French defender Chantilly received a second yellow card for taking a free kick too quickly.

Spain were suddenly in the ascendancy and in the 90th minute the winner arrived amid a feeling of inevitability, as Guijarro thumped home the winning header after Menayo whipped in a free kick from out wide on the right.