Iceland pip Denmark to Under-17 finals spot

Iceland are through to the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals in Slovenia after edging out Denmark on goal difference to win elite round Group 6 in Scotland.

Going into the last day, Scotland, Iceland and 2011 semi-finalists Denmark all had chances of qualifying for Slovenia. While Denmark beat Scotland 3-2 in Greenock thanks to Mikkel Jensen's 74th-minute winner, Iceland made short work of Lithuania in a 4-0 success.

Oliver Sigurjónsson opened the scoring from the spot after 15 minutes and both Páll Thorsteinsson and Dadi Bergsson increased the lead before Lithuania lost Lukas Pangonis to a second yellow card, the excellent Kristján Flóki Finnbogason then rounding off the result. The convincing nature of the win lifted Iceland ahead of Denmark on goal difference, and Gunnar Gudmundsson's charges now go into the 4 April draw for the tournament from 4 to 16 May.

Scotland, inspired by Chelsea FC forward Islam Feruz in his third U17 campaign, began by beating Lithuania 1-0, defender Stuart Findlay capping a fine performance by looping in a header to win the game against a side making their elite round bow. Elsewhere on the opening day, the impressive Marcus Mathiasen twice gave Denmark the second-half lead against Iceland, but his first goal was swiftly cancelled out by Bergsson and then substitute Gunnlaugur Birgisson secured a 2-2 draw with five minutes left.

Two days later, Iceland deservedly overcame Scotland 1-0, Finnbogason scoring the only goal in Dumbarton three minutes after half-time. That allowed Denmark to move to the top on goal difference by ending Lithuania's hopes 3-1, Marcus Mathiasen and Jacob Andersen heading Denmark into a 2-0 25th-minute lead moments before Viktor Nielsen turned in Mikkel Jensen's cross to make it three. Deimantas Petravičius's late free-kick was a mere consolation.