Germany edge Spain from the spot to clinch title

Germany won the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Germany in a tightly contested final in Chesterfield.

Patricia Guijarro shot Spain in front after nine minutes and they held their lead until four minutes from time, when Germany substitute Isabella Hartig struck from close range. It was the first goal Spain had conceded after 316 minutes of action in England and it took the contest into a shoot-out which Anoushka Bernhard's Germany ultimately edged.

Goalkeeper Vivien Brandt made two saves, Jasmin Sehan and Laura Widak converted their penalties and it was left to Hartig to hit the winning kick to secure a record fourth title for her country, and Bernhard's second as coach.

It was an outcome that did not look likely during a first half dominated by Spain. They had beaten Germany 4-0 in their final group game – only the second by any Spanish female team over German opposition – and a third appeared in the offing when Guijarro put her team in front.

The Spain No9 got her second goal of the tournament in impressive fashion in the ninth minute. Pouncing on a loose ball in a position just outside the Germany box, she fired in a right-foot shot that kicked up off the turf and flew past Brandt to her right.

With their tricky, pacy ball players, Spain continued taking the game to Germany, who had to withstand a series of corners and free-kicks. Just before half-time, Andrea Sánchez's delivery from the right almost led to another goal as Nahikari García flicked the ball across for Mireya García Boa, who volleyed wide. There were more scares for Germany in the second half as García just failed to profit from García Boa's ball across goal and then turned the ball wide on the follow-up after Brandt had spilled a long shot.

Yet Germany finally grew into the game. If Bernhard had been forced to replace Ricarda Walkling with Saskia Matheis owing to injury, it was her tactical switch of Hartig for Leonie Stenzel that paid off with the equaliser.

Until the 76th minute, the closest Gemany had come was a snapshot by striker Sehan blocked by a well-placed red shirt. Yet, with time running out, they got their goal. Nina Ehegötz sent over a low cross and although Sehan missed it at the near post, the ball ran on to Hartig who made no mistake with her close-range effort. Even then, Spain might have won it in normal time, Brandt keeping out a Sánchez free-kick with her fingertips, but it was not their night.