Belgium, Germany rubber-stamp last-eight tickets
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Article summary
Germany laid down a marker by putting four past already-qualified Austria, and Belgium sealed their quarter-final place with a 0-0 draw against Portugal as Groups A and B finished.
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Group A
Portugal 0-0 Belgium
Belgium gained the point they needed to make absolutely sure of their quarter-final place. Section winners Portugal adopted a shoot-on-sight policy in the first ten minutes, eliciting two impressive saves from Mile Svilar. Miguel Luis tried his luck for a third time just before the break but was once again thwarted by the Anderlecht player. Portugal were seldom troubled in keeping their third clean sheet of the finals, although Diogo Costa did come to the rescue when blocking from Indy Boonen, who had been sent clean through by Daouda Peeters.
Scotland 0-1 Azerbaijan
The hosts registered a valedictory win, Azerbaijan's first in U17 finals history, as the curtain came down on their debut campaign. An open, end-to-end encounter was winding towards a goalless finish when Farid Nabiyev beat Kieran Wright with a long-range strike. A disappointing tournament for Scotland, who failed to score or pick up a point, ended with Fraser Hornby being sent off.
Group B
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-1 Ukraine
Two spectacular goals from Benjamin Hadžić ensured Bosnia and Herzegovina signed off in style. Hadžić rifled Sakib Malkočević's side ahead against the run of play two minutes before the interval with a half-volley from around 30 metres. One quickly became two, the Bayern München forward beating a defender down the left and curling a shot into the far corner. Ukraine reduced their arrears through Andriy Kulakov's close-range header and came close to salvaging a draw that would have kept them off the bottom of the section when Olexiy Khakhlov hit the bar with a deflected free-kick.
Germany 4-0 Austria
Germany delivered a statement of intent by sweeping aside an Austria team missing the suspended Alexander Burgstaller and Jorg Wagnes. Yari Otto cut inside on to his left foot and unleashed a shot that took a massive deflection off Austria defender Luca Meisl. Captain Atakan Akkaynak doubled the advantage, lifting Arne Meier's sweeping pass over the busy Semir Karalic without breaking stride. It was 3-0 after 32 minutes, Otto teeing up Kai Havertz. Renat Dadashov sealed Germany's group-winning status in added time.
Quarter-final fixtures
Saturday
Portugal v Austria (13.00CET, Dalga Arena)
Germany v Belgium (18.00, Dalga Arena)
Sunday
Winner of Group C v Runner-up in Group D (8km Stadium)
Winner of Group D v Runner-up in Group C (8km Stadium)