Leading pair claim their places

Switzerland and Northern Ireland negotiated UEFA European Under-17 Championship first qualifying round Group 10 without losing to both claim their places in the next stage.

Hosts qualify
Having drawn their opening match, 2001/02 winners Switzerland and group hosts Northern Ireland - who competed in the 2003/04 final tournament - overcame Slovakia and Liechtenstein in their subsequent games to reach the Elite round. Slovakia's performance will not be enough to take them through as the best third-place team.

Honours even
Northern Ireland began their campaign against the Swiss at The Showgrounds, home of Ballymena United FC, and Paul Walsh gave the hosts a perfect start as he opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Kenny Shiels's side preserved their slender advantage until four minutes before the final whistle, when substitute Bequim Halimi struck to earn Switzerland a draw.

Four-goal flourish
Slovakia, meanwhile, opened with a 4-0 win against Liechtenstein at Lisburn Distillery FC's New Grosvenor stadium, although the scoreline was somewhat deceptive as two of the goals came from the penalty spot while Liechtenstein defender Fabio Kindle put through his own net. Lukáš Šebek opened the scoring from the spot in the 16th minute and, after Kindle had inadvertently doubled the lead eleven minutes later, made it 3-0 on the half-hour with another penalty. Ján Zápotoka wrapped up the win 15 minutes into the second half.

Nine for Switzerland
Switzerland produced a dominant display against Liechtenstein on Matchday 2, running out 9-0 winners at The Showgrounds with Ivan Rakitic scoring four times and Halimi getting a hat-trick in the final nine minutes to take his tally for the mini-tournament to four. François Arona and Daniel Pavlovic got the other goals.

Crucial win
A 17-minute spell early in the second half proved decisive as the Northern Irish took on Slovakia at The Oval in Belfast, Robert Weir striking in the 47th and 61st minutes to give Shiels's team a two-goal cushion before Michael Carville added a third three minutes later.

Swiss through
That result left Slovakia needing victory against Switzerland at Loughgall's Lakeview Park. But it was the Swiss who claimed a 2-0 win and a place in the Elite round as Remo Staubli and Halimi struck in the first half-hour.

Allen hat-trick
Northern Ireland had only required a draw against Liechtenstein at the national stadium, Belfast's Windsor Park, but in any case cruised to a 5-0 victory to claim second place behind Switzerland on goal difference. Curtis Allen struck a hat-trick, and the other goals game from Martin Donnelly and Robert Garrett.