The final four teams for the 2023 U17 Women’s European Championships have been determined in Manisa, and they are now just one step away from securing a medal.
Greece and Spain both demonstrated their offensive prowess, scoring 13 goals each in their respective victories over Croatia (13-5) and Israel (13-4). Meanwhile, Hungary delivered a dominant performance, crushing the host team, Turkiye, with a convincing 19-3 win. Italy always looked comfortable in their 11-3 victory over the Netherlands.
Semi-finals
15:00 – Semi-final – Greece vs Spain
18:30 – Semi-final – Hungary vs Italy
The upcoming semi-finals will feature Hungary against Italy, a rematch of the bronze medal match from the 2021 tournament, where Hungary emerged victorious with a 12-9 score. In the other semi-final, Greece and Spain will face off, recalling the 2013 gold-medal match in Istanbul, where Greece emerged triumphant.
Day 6, U17 Women’s European Championships, Manisa, Turkiye
Hungary effortlessly secured their spot in the semi-finals with a resounding 19-3 victory against the host nation, Turkiye. While the Magyars took a bit of time to find their rhythm, they displayed complete dominance once they hit their stride. Hungary demonstrated excellent proficiency with two out of three extra-player opportunities and an impressive four out of five successful 5m penalty shots. Notably, fourteen of Hungary’s nineteen goals were contributed by players from UVSE, with Lendvay scoring 4, and Hajdu, Tiba, and Varro each contributing 3 goals to the team’s commanding performance.
Italy will be the opponents for Hungary, following their impressive 11-3 victory over the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. Italy gradually built their advantage, taking a commanding 5-0 lead during the second quarter. Unfortunately, the Dutch team struggled to find their rhythm, and the missed penalties further hindered their efforts. Eleonora Bianco stood out with a hat-trick, while Teresa Lombardo, Emma Bacelle, and Beatrice Cassara contributed with two goals each in the match.
Greece has secured a berth in the U17 European Championship semi-final with an impressive 13-5 victory over Croatia. The match saw a dominant performance from the Greek team, particularly in the third quarter, where they outscored Croatia by 4-0, establishing a significant lead. Efsthathia Nefeli Kovatsevits played a crucial role in the victory, contributing five goals to the team’s success. Notably, Greece has reached the semi-finals on all but one occasion, ironically during the tournament they hosted in Volos in 2019.
Greece will face Spain in the semi-finals, after the Spaniards waltzed past Israel 13-4. Marian Diaz’s young team faced respectable resistance for the majority of the game, but a decisive goal-spree in the fourth quarter whisked the Spanish far away to win the game with relative comfort. Mataro’s Martina Claveria and Mediterrani’s Ariadna Temprano both notched a trio of goals.
Slovakia and France have both achieved a commendable top-10 finish in this year’s U17 competition following their victories over Serbia and Malta, respectively. Both will face off tomorrow, with a 9th place finish on the line.
Slovakia secured a thrilling 12-11 victory over Serbia, with Nela Mesterova delivering a last-second goal. Despite Serbia’s efforts to recover from a three-score deficit in the final period and equalize with just 16 seconds remaining, Mesterova’s decisive fifth goal on the final buzzer ensured Slovakia’s placement in the top-10.
In contrast, France enjoyed a less dramatic match against Malta, triumphing with an 11-4 scoreline. After a goal-less opening quarter, the French team took control and established a 4-1 lead in the second half. Three consecutive goals in the last quarter solidified their victory and secured their place among the top-10 teams in the competition.
Great Britain concluded their U17 European Championship campaign in 13th place, with a comfortable 12-5 victory over Romania. Lucy Blenkinship’s hat-trick in the first quarter set the tone for a decisive 7-0 run that extended into the second half, leaving Romania with no opportunity for recovery. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland secured the 15th place in Manisa, securing their second victory of the tournament with a low-scoring 5-2 win over Switzerland.
Quarter-finals
Greece 13 – 5 Croatia (2-1, 2-2, 4-0, 5-2)
Hungary 19 – 3 Turkiye (7-1, 5-1, 3-1, 4-0)
Spain 13 – 4 Israel (2-1, 3-0, 2-2, 6-1)
Netherlands 3 – 11 Italy (0-2, 2-5, 1-2, 0-2)
9-12 Semi-finals
Slovakia 12 – 11 Serbia (5-3, 1-0, 3-4, 3-4)
France 11 – 4 Malta (0-0, 3-1, 3-2, 5-1)
13th Final
Great Britain 12 – 5 Romania (5-0, 2-1, 4-2, 1-2)
15th Final
Switzerland 2 – 5 Ireland (1-0, 0-2, 1-1, 0-2)
Tournament Schedule
Day 6 – 4th August
09:00 – 11th Final – Serbia vs Malta
10:30 – 9th Final – Slovakia vs France
12:00 – 5-8SF – Croatia vs Israael
15:30 – 5-8SF – Turkiye vs Netherlands
15:00 – Semi-final – Greece vs Spain
18:30 – Semi-final – Hungary vs Italy
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