May 7, 2002

England plays in semifinal of UEFA U- 19

Thorsten Frennstedt

Though England dropped 3-4 against Switzerland in the last game of group B in the UEFA U 19-championships in Sweden it was enough to send the team to the semi-final round.

England got an easy start 2-0 within 13 minutes after scores by Faye Dunn and Katy Ward. In short time Switzerland eqalized after somebad mistakes by the English defense. Nicole Gassmann made it 1-2 and Corinna Theiler 2-2. Katy Ward again sent England ahead 3-2 in the 38th minute with a blast behind Janine Chamot, the Swiss keeper.
Switzerland took over the game in the second half. The second equalizer was a PK. Corinne Theiler hit it in for 3-3. That could have been the last goal of the game if yet another grave mistake by a defender gave Nicole Gassmann plenty of space to score the 4-3 for Switzerland.

The Swiss team has surely been a surprise in the UEFA U 19-championships. Team chief Béatrice von Siebentahl should be proud of her team, however she regretted that the team had not scored more goals in the previous matches. Switzerland was only one goal away from reaching the semifinal.
Denmark went through in ggoup B with 3 consecutive wins - as the Germans did in group A.
Denmark beat Norway 3-1 (2-1). Johanna Rasmussen scored an early goal, Reidun Nilsen equalized for Norway. Ditte Larsen showed her hability on free kicks, The one from 25 meters went in for 2-1. Denmark dominated the second half, and in the 83th minute Cecilie Vedel Pedersen by her 3-1 turned off the light for the Norwegians. Norway became the last team of group B - like Sweden in group A.

The semifinals will be played on May 10th at the city of Landskrona.Germany plays England and Denmark plays France.