Home heartache as Spain prevail

Ten-man Spain reached the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final after overcoming hosts Belgium in a dramatic penalty shoot-out which concluded with goalkeeper David De Egea saving the eighth home spot-kick.

Late leveller
Bob Browaeys's team appeared to be on course for Sunday's final in Tournai when Eden Hazard let fly on 63 minutes and saw his strike deflected into the goal off Spain defender David Rochela. But that was counting without the influence of Spain's star forward Bojan Krkić who forced the equaliser with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

Early pressure
The hosts had been the first to set their sights and, on 20 minutes, Kevin Kis almost caught out De Egea with an ambitious long-range effort. The Spain custodian needed his wits about him to recover in time to tip the shot over his crossbar. At the other end, Isma López posed the visitors' first threat, cutting in from the left before hitting the sidenetting with a powerful attempt.

Sending-off
Belgium goalkeeper Jo Coppens also had to be alert on 26 minutes to fist away Ximo's free-kick as Juan Santisteban's side began to turn the screw, yet the Spanish task was made all the harder when Pichu was sent off for a second yellow card after bringing down playmaker Hazard eleven minutes after half-time. Nonetheless, Spain almost took the lead soon after as Krkić was picked out by a fine Frán Merida pass only to see his shot blocked by the keeper.

Goals arrive
Belgium eventually went ahead against the run of play. Nill De Pauw supplied Hazard with a delightful ball and the No10 sent an angled drive past De Egea and in off Rochela from ten metres. Spain might have equalised immediately when Bojan's rifled 20-metre strike came off the far upright. However, Santisteban's faith in this much-heralded FC Barcelona forward pair dividends on 72 minutes as Bojan's quickfire effort from 25 metres dipped over Coppens and into the net.

Penalties drama
In extra time Spain started to tire and Belgium were unlucky not to score through Hazard, who blazed over, and De Pauw, who had a goal disallowed for offside. Hazard then found De Pauw but, after his shot was turned in by substitute Maurizio Aquino, the offside flag intervened once more. Belgium even looked odds-on to reach the final when Coppens kept out the first Spain penalty from Ander Vitoria yet Aquino missed what would have been the clinching conversion before home captain Dimitri Daeseleire saw his shot saved by De Egea. The 7-6 scoreline meant misery for Browaeys but joy for Santisteban's resilient charges who meet England here on Sunday.