Report: Spain 1-0 England WU19s

A tense finale to Group B saw England depart their UEFA Women’s U19 European Championship journey after they fell to a late goal to holders Spain in a courageously thrilling game. However, the result means the Young Lionesses qualified for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

On an evening that began with all four teams in the group level on three points apiece, an evenly-contested affair against the eight-time winners of the competition meant England narrowly missed out on the semi-finals.

Spain began the brightest, breaking through behind the right-hand side, before a cutback cross swept wide. The early warning sign was swiftly followed by another neat move that similarly broke into the England box for a shot that Katie Cox was equal to.

England began to assert more control of possession at the quarter-hour mark, playing their way through for their first attempt at goal. Mari Ward’s side-step inside and splitting pass through the Spanish defence sent Princess Ademiluyi through, but she was quickly met by an onrushing Laia.

A high-quality end to the first half saw both sides tussle for dominance on the ball, zipping passes through both midfields.

Ava Baker’s first flurry past her marker created space for Ademiluyi in behind once more. This time, the striker got a powerful strike away that tested Laia down to her right.

After gradually growing into the match, it was England who ended the first period at a piercing pace.

Nelly Las’ tackle, driving run and deep pass from full-back unleashed Baker once more to stride into a one-v-one position in behind. Her clever chip bounced narrowly wide, but the Young Lionesses’ growing confidence in the game was now apparent.

England continued to edge the momentum of the game in the second half. Requiring a win to go through, Lauren Smith’s side began to pile the pressure on the holders high up the pitch, in and out of possession.

With a Portugal goal elsewhere in the group leaving the two sides in a straight shootout for qualification, a more desperate feel to the game entered the final 20 minutes of the game. A decisive deadlock still elusive, spaces began to stretch across a pitch filled with whole-hearted performances.

Still, Spain threatened. On the occasions they were able to battle past the impressive Katie Reid and Lexi Potter, who strongly screened the England box, Cox saved comfortably from a free-kick routine, before producing a fine stop to deny a long-range effort from Noemi.

An understandably emotionally-charged closing moments, fuelled by an additional seven minutes added on, saw England throw themselves forward in numbers.

It was this commitment forward that left room for Spain to mount one more counter-attack, outnumbering England’s defence. A composed finish in the dying seconds from Cris Libran confirmed Spain’s place in the semi-finals.

England: 1 Katie Cox (Chelsea), 2 Nelly Las (Leicester City, 6 Katie Reid (Arsenal), 5 Lucy Newell (Manchester United), 3 Mari Ward (Bristol City), 8 Lexi Potter (Chelsea), 4 Laila Harbert (Arsenal), 10 Lola Brown (Chelsea), 7 Ava Baker (Birmingham City), 11 Vivienne Lia (Arsenal); 9 Princess Ademiluyi (West Ham United)

Substitutes: 12 Erica Parkinson (Valadares Gaia) for Lia 45’, 14 Lauryn Thompson (Indy Eleven) for Ademiluyi 80’

Substitutes not used: 13 Eve Annets (Manchester City), 15 Maddy Earl (Arsenal), 17 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), 18 Chloe Sarwie (Chelsea), 19 Jessie Gale (Arsenal), 20 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Arsenal)

Goals: Libran 90+6’

Head coach: Lauren Smith