Belgium deny Czech Republic

Belgium held off the Czech Republic to top UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship first qualifying round Group 8 by a single goal after a mini-tournament in which neither conceded.

Going into the decider in Roudnice, Belgium had beaten Estonia 8-0 and Belarus 4-0 while the Czech hosts had defeated those sides 6-0 and 5-0. The Czech Republic had their chances, notably when Tereza Křejčiříková missed a penalty on the hour, but Belgium held on, though the home side's hopes of reaching the second qualifying round remain alive.

Five different players scored for Belgium in their opening win against Estonia, with Lotte Aertsen getting a hat-trick, while Kateřina Svitková struck twice in the Czech defeat of Belarus. Svitková also scored twice against Estonia, but two strikes each from Lucinda Michez and Lola Wajnblum in Belgium's win versus Belarus kept them ahead on goal difference.

Michez missed the target from 20 metres when presented with an empty net  against the Czech Republic but the draw proved enough to put Belgium in the second qualifying round in the spring, drawn on 15 November. The Czech Republic could yet be there as one of the four runners-up with the best record against the sides first and third in their section across the ten groups. Belarus are that third-placed team after overcoming Estonia 4-0.