Germany advance as Italy stumble

Germany's excellent start to the 2nd FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship continued today as they defeated Australia 4-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals from Group A.

Group decider
Silvia Neid's side were simply irresistible against a team of young Matildas tipped to impress in Thailand and will now play Canada, 7-0 victors against the hosts to qualify themselves, for section supremacy on Tuesday. In contrast, Italy only have a glimmer of a chance of progressing after they lost for the second match in succession in Group B, going down 2-1 against pool leaders China.

Excellent stop
Germany opened with a 6-0 win against Thailand, with Célia Okoyino da Mbabi scoring two of the goals. The 16-year-old prodigy only had to wait four minutes today for her third goal of the tournament, sending her side on their way with a high shot beyond Monique Jackson. Anja Mittag doubled Germany's lead in the 26th minute, by which time goalkeeper Tessa Rinkes had produced an excellent stop to deny Selin Kuralay.

Mittag second
Mittag made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute when tapping in from close range after her shot had ricocheted back to her off the bar, and Anna Blaesse, again unmarked, completed the success in the 85th minute. Italy, meanwhile, opened the scoring through Agnese Ricco (24) in Chiang Mai before China sealed three points with goals from Wang Kun (52) and Xu Yuan (82). Brazil were beaten 3-2 by Nigeria in the other Group B game.