Northern Ireland and Scotland promoted to UEFA Women’s U-19 League A | OneFootball

Northern Ireland U-19s. (Bob Hall Sports Photography)

Northern Ireland and Scotland promoted to UEFA Women’s U-19 Qualifying League A for next season, Wales defeated in group decider.

Scotland beat Group B2 hosts Albania 3-0 to secure promotion to League A. Jodi McLeary, Brodie Greenwood and Mia McAuley all scored in a 13-minute spell around the hour mark, as Scotland made it a trio of wins.

Northern Ireland are also going up after defeating Estonia 2-0 to take top spot in Group B5 from them. Niamh O’Donnell opened the scoring and Sarah Tweedie netted a stoppage-time penalty.

Wales lost out in another group decider, 2-1 to North Macedonia, despite Olivia Francis having equalised. As runners-up, they do have another chance of promotion through a play-off.

England and Republic of Ireland had already qualified for the finals in Lithuania this July, where they will be joined by the hosts plus France, Germany, Netherlands, Serbia and holders Spain. The draw will be made on 30 April.

The Young Lionesses made it three wins from three when coming from behind to beat Italy 4-1. Freya Godfrey replied immediately, before seeing an effort handled on the line and converting the resulting penalty. Ava Baker’s low cross was tapped in by Poppy Pritchard after the break, Pritchard then making the most of a defensive mistake to score again moments later.

Republic of Ireland also finished on maximum points with a 3-0 win over Croatia, as Kate Thompson, Ceola Bergin and Hazel Donegan each found the net.

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