England hold on to hit French hopes

England braved treacherous conditions in Akranes to throw Group B wide open with a 3-1 victory against pre-tournament favourites France that leaves everything to play for on Monday.

Nervous finale
All four teams in the section have a chance of going through to the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship semi-finals after this impressive performance by Mo Marley's side. Sophie Bradley set them on course with the opening goal on 24 minutes, reacting quickest after Ellen White had headed Jessica Clarke's looping centre back across goal. Natasha Dowie made it 2-0 on the hour before substitute Marie-Laure Delie (64) ensured a tense finale when she rose to glance in Elodie Cordier's near-post cross. But England held on and White rounded off the triumph on the counterattack deep into injury time.

Caught cold
The match had started very differently as England were almost caught cold with a goal inside 60 seconds. The elusive Charlotte Lozé broke clear on the left and her delivery was met by Eugénie Le Sommer's acrobatic overhead kick which Danielle Hill did well to claw to safety. England's own No7 Clarke was also proving a handful as Marley's team settled, their industrious five-player midfield starving the French of time in the centre of the park.

Key intervention
Chances were at a premium, although it took a great tackle from Elizabeth Edwards to deny Charlotte Amaury as the France striker drove into the box. It was a crucial interception and a minute later England were ahead as Bradley nodded in via the underside of the bar. By now the rain was lashing down but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of Marley's charges, who were taking control even if France ended the half on the offensive with Amaury threatening twice. The 19-year-old teed up Marine Masson and then Chloé Mazaloubeaud yet with the goal at their mercy, neither could test Hill.

French fightback
It was enough to convince France coach Stéphane Pilard to make a change at the interval, replacing Masson with Delie. The No9 had finished qualifying as top scorer and nearly made an immediate impression, breaking through only for the offside flag to rescue England. Yet England were resilient and doubled their advantage when White's dangerous low cross fell kindly for Dowie to fire into an empty net after Clarke and goalkeeper Karima Benameur had collided. Delie brought Les Bleuettes back into the contest soon afterwards, before White sealed the win in stoppage time.