France 2-1 Spain
France beat Spain 2-1 to win Women's Under-19 title
France beat Spain 2-1 to take the Women's Under-19 title, although Spain had a penalty saved and missed an open goal right at the death.
France beat Spain 2-1
The Spanish dream of being Champions of Europe wasn't to be. Spain's women were beaten by France 2-1 in the final of the UEFA European Under-19 tournament, in Senec, Slovakia. The final was badly affected by the weather, with a pitch that was for the most part water-logged, and with the game being halted for two hours at half-time with the pitch unplayable due to lying water.
France took the lead through Geyoro
Spain looked somewhat the brighter side in the first half, but were hit by a counter-attack in the 36th minute, with Geyoro powering into the Spanish box and beating Peña in goal.
After the second half started, Spain had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, but French keeper Chavas saved Nahikari Garcia's spot-kick, pushing the ball onto the post.
The pitch was nearly unplayable, with the ball stopping dead in several zones with water lying on the pitch. And French striker Katoto took full advantage of just such an incident when the ball stopped in the Spanish defence, wrongfooting keeper and defender and allowing the French forward to nick the ball and score France's second.
Spain fightback
Lucía García gave Pedro López' side hope, making it 2-1 with six minutes to play and then came the cruelest moment of the night. Nahikari, who had missed the penalty earlier, was gifted an open goal with just seconds remaining when the French keeper failed to hold a shot. But only needing to tap in, the Real Sociedad striker slipped as she went to score the equaliser and lofted the ball over the bar. She put her shirt over her head, before collapsing to the turf in tears. The chance had gone and France are Champions.