Sweden and Austria move on unbeaten

Sweden and Austria drew their UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship first qualifying round Group 6 decider 2-2, ensuring both progressed from a weather-hit mini-tournament.

Hosts Austria went into their final game trailing Sweden on goal difference. Although they failed to overtake them, they join the section winners in the 20 November second qualifying round draw as one of the five runners-up with the best record against the sides first and third in their pool, denying Iceland that last place.

The first games were postponed 24 hours due to snow. When they started, Stina Blackstenius, Linda Hallin and Anna Oskarsson – a first-half substitute for Amanda Östervall – all managed hat-tricks for Sweden in a 9-0 defeat of Croatia.

Austria eased to a 4-1 victory against Azerbaijan and next time out went one better than Sweden as they overcame Croatia 10-0, Nicole Billa scoring three to add to her goal in the opening match and eight in last season's three-game campaign. Sweden remained top of the section courtesy of a 7-1 success against Azerbaijan, Hallin and Oskarsson both striking twice.

However, Sweden still had to make sure they preserved their record of never failing to reach the second qualifying round, despite not having featured in the finals.

Billa headed Austria ahead on eight minutes but Simone Krammer put through her own goal after Oskarsson broke down the right. Early in the second half Johanna Rytting Kaneryd gave Sweden the lead. With nine minutes left Billa added to her impressive competition goal tally with a solo effort to ensure a draw.

Azerbaijan defeated Croatia 6-0 for third place, a happy ending for the squad that recently represented the hosts at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Both of the final day games were played in Lindabrunn as the venue in Purbach am See could not be used.