Denmark extinguish Norway hopes

Norway were eliminated from the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship on goal difference today as Denmark advanced to a semi-final against France with a 3-1 victory in Ängelholm.

Confident mood
Denmark went into the game in confident mood having accounted for Switzerland and England in their two previous Group B games and it showed as they struck early through Johanna Rasmussen, who excelled again down the left. Norway striker Reidun Nilsen restored parity before Ditte Larsen, with a stunning free-kick, and Cecilie Pedersen Vedel's penalty ensured the Danes progressed as group winners.

England through
Per Rud's side are joined in the last four by England despite their 4-3 defeat by Switzerland in a game played simultaneously in Kävlinge. England, Norway and Switzerland all finished on three points, six behind Denmark, but the English qualified on the back of their 3-1 victory against Norway on the opening day.

Rasmussen opener
Denmark signalled their intent in the sixth minute when Larsen struck the angle of post and crossbar with an audacious free-kick, and Dorte Petersen Gauhl and Rasmussen also looked dangerous early on. Indeed the two, who both scored in the 2-1 victory against Switzerland, combined superbly for the opening goal a minute later, Rasmussen converting with her left foot from ten metres.

Nilsen leveller
Another fine team move, this time from Norway, led to an equalising goal six minutes from half-time. Nilsen finished confidently after Marit Lyngroth, who had been sent free down the right flank by Captain Lene Espedal's ball over the top, found her unmarked in the Danish area. Proceedings were level for just three minutes, however, as Larsen put Denmark back in front with a stunning free-kick reminiscent of England captain David Beckham's strike against Greece in a FIFA World Cup qualifying game.

Impressive goalkeeping
Norway improved after the break but Susanne Graversen Boel, the most impressive goalkeeper in the competition, was equal to everything they threw at her. The Norwegians found a way past her in the 78th minute but Louise Pedersen Kousgaard cleared Espedal's header off the line. That chance came five minutes after Nilsen had blasted a clear opening over the bar following clever play from Lyngroth.

Superb showing
Even though a draw would have been enough for Denmark to top the group, and avoid a meeting with Group A winners Germany, they continued to search for a third goal to put the icing on a superb showing in the group matches. Petersen Gauhl thought she had found it in the 81st minute but Norway goalkeeper Silje Vesterbekkmo produced a breathtaking save to tip the captain's header around her right-hand post.

Clinching goal
The clinching goal finally arrived seven minutes from time when Pedersen Vedel stroked home a penalty after Rune Vikestad brought down Rasmussen, the player of the match for the second time in succession. Denmark coach Rud was delighted to achieve the double goal of reaching the last four and this summer's FIFA Women's Under-19 World Cup. "We have worked very hard to reach Canada and we deserved it with three victories," he said.

'High rate of scoring'
The Danes lost two players to injury in the opening game and Rud hailed the way his reduced squad of 16 have coped in their absence, adding: "They have played at such a high level, like today when we had such a high rate of scoring - we scored three goals from six chances which is very efficient. We changed our style at half-time as short passes were not very effective and we improved by playing balls into the corners."

Returning home
Seven Denmark players will return home from Sweden tomorrow to take exams, but Rud hopes to have them all back at night in time to prepare for what he thinks will be an exciting showdown against the French. "We are two teams who like to get the ball down and play football and it will be a very technical game," he said. "We have improved since we last played them and I think we will win."