Switzerland cap impressive progress

Mini-tournament hosts Switzerland sealed their passage to the 2005 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship as they maintained their 100 per cent record with victory against Ukraine.

Free-scoring campaign
The home side went into the encounter at the Niedermatten stadion with Group 6 already secured following wins against Poland and Northern Ireland. They registered four goals in each match and this evening's game proved no different in terms of openness as the home side edged a five-goal thriller against Ukraine.

Kaufmann double
Switzerland looked to be coasting to victory after first-half strikes from defender Isabelle Kaufmann and Vanessa Bürki gave them a 2-0 lead. But Ganna Savchuk reduced the deficit eight minutes after the restart and Ukraine desperately pushed for a second until Kaufmann struck again on 83 minute. Savchuk collected her second in added-time to set up a grandstand finale but it proved in vain.

Poland second
The loss meant Ukraine finished at the foot of the section after three successive defeats, while Claudio Taddei's Swiss side took maximum points from their three outings. The encounter between Northern Ireland and Poland was therefore a battle for second, which the Poles secured after a 3-1 victory at the Engelgehr Malters stadion.

Demoralising defeat
Poland suffered a demoralising 4-1 defeat by Switzerland on Thursday, but showed no ill-effects and took the lead on 24 minutes through Anna Bkazeyevska. Northern Ireland, who came into the game on the back of a 2-0 win against Ukraine, equalised on 71 minutes, but parity lasted just three minutes before Marta Stobba restored Poland's advantage.

Bkazeyevska double
Ian Stewart's Irish side were unable to launch a comeback a second time, however, and Bkazeyevska sealed the win with her second goal of the game on 82 minutes as Poland secured second in the standings.