Germans Too Strong for DenmarkGermany 2 - 0 Denmark
Second-half goals from Fatmire Bajrmaj and Nadine Kessler saw Germany take a significant step towards a place in the European Women's Under-19 Championship semi-finals with victory against Denmark.
Penalty openerHaving come from a goal down to beat Belgium in their opening Group A fixture, the Danes went into the match in high spirits but were brought back to earth by a strong German side. Bajrmaj eventually broke the deadlock from the penalty spot seven minutes after half-time and it was not long before Kessler added a second, leaving Denmark needing a point from their final Group A fixture against Sweden on Sunday.
Pre-match stormBy contrast Germany need just a point against Belgium to ensure their progress, and will hope to make a bright start after initially struggling with the greasy conditions in Langenthal. A thunderstorm saw the kick-off delayed by 15 minutes and it was the Danes who adapted quickest, as Marie Bjerg rifled narrowly wide just before the half-hour following a mazy run on the right flank that left two defenders in her wake.
Kerschowski threatBut Germany gradually found their feet and stepped it up before the interval as Kessler twice threatened a shaky Cecilie Sørensen. They maintained the initiative after the restart and were soon rewarded when Juliane Maier was brought down in the penalty area by Maja Biltoft Sandberg. Bajrmaj kept her cool to convert the spot-kick and almost added a second on 66 minutes but fired over after a good exchange between Kessler and the excellent Isabel Kerschowski.
Comfortable finaleKessler was more accurate 60 second later, turning on the penalty spot and driving the ball high into the roof of the net. With Sunday's match in mind it was their cue to sit back and soak up the pressure, although it was the Germans that looked the most likely to add to the scoring as Denmark's progress suffered a setback.
Player of the Match: Isabel Kerschowski (Germany)________________________________
France Indebted to DelieNetherlands 0 - 1 France 
France made it two wins out of two at the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship with a narrow victory against the Netherlands at the Bergholz stadium in Wil. Marie-Laure Delie's strike five minutes before half-time took her personal tally to three for the tournament and condemned the Dutch to a second straight defeat.
Excellent savesIn stormy conditions it was France who increased a pedestrian early tempo. Dutch goalkeeper Angela Christ proved a significant obstacle, however, and pulled off three excellent stops between the 16th and 32nd minutes to deny Caroline Pizzala, Nora Coton Pelagie and Eugénie Le Sommer.
Delie breakthroughFrance missed another great chance to open the scoring after 35 minutes when Delie, scorer of two goals in the opening day win over Russia, headed wide from Pizzala's free kick. However, the tall striker was not to be denied for long and she showed fine predatory instincts to prod the ball in from close range after 40 minutes after the Dutch defence had failed to clear.
French deniedThe Netherlands' half-time introduction of Sheila van den Bulk and Amber van der Heijde failed to halt the French dominance and they were unlucky not to extend their lead after 48 minutes when Le Sommer rattled the crossbar with a right-foot drive and Delie almost scored in the ensuing scramble.
Back footThen, just short of the hour mark, Elodie Cordier's cross from the left went right across the Dutch goal but no player was able to make the necessary connection. The Netherlands spent much of the latters stages on the back foot, as the French defence remained unruffled.
Player of the match: Elodie Cordier (France)_______________________________________
Battling Belgium Stifle SwedesSweden 0 - 0 Belgium
Both Sweden and Belgium must win their final Group A games to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals after this goalless affair in Berne. Sweden enjoyed the better of the chances but failed to unlock a gritty Belgian back line and had to settle for a second straight draw.
Fors runAfter a slow start the Swedes began to create openings in the final ten minutes of the first half, with right-winger Maja Krantz once again proving a useful attacking weapon. She supplied a teasing cross that neither Johanna Andersson nor Ida Brännström could quite reach, while Louise Fors weaved her way into a shooting position but failed to hit the target.
Staying powerBelgium wilted in the second half of their opening game against Denmark, but the cooler conditions allowed them to display greater staying power to deny the Swedes. Kristien Elses had Belgium's best chance, running onto a Karen Meeus cross but firing wide first time. At the other end Sweden were frustrated, with only Lina Nilsson managing to test goalkeeper Sofie Van Houtven.
Saturday showdownOn the final whistle Belgium celebrated their first point of the competition, but they will need an even better performance to secure the win against Germany they need to keep their hopes alive, while Sweden take on neighbours Denmark on Saturday also knowing only victory will suffice.
Player of the match: Nathalie Junius (Belgium)________________________________________
Danilova Double Crowns ComebackSwitzerland 1 - 2 Russia
Russia's defence of the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship was looking shaky until two goals from their star of 2005, Elena Danilova, gave them a 2-1 comeback victory against hosts Switzerland.
Devastating combinationCaroline Abbé's first-minute header had left the Swiss ahead at half-time but right-winger Elena Morozova twice found Danilova to devastating effect. Although France lead these Group B rivals by three points after defeating the Netherlands, all four teams could yet make the semi-finals and an exciting denouement beckons on Sunday when the hosts meet Les Bleuettes and Russia, currently second on head-to-head record, play the Dutch.
Late changeThe Swiss lineup was to have been unaltered from their impressive 2-0 win against the Netherlands but a late hamstring injury to Vanessa Bernauer pressed striker Sara Schwarz into action. Russia midfielders Svetlana Akimova and Elena Schegoleva came in for Kristina Anokhina, who was forced off early with illness in the 4-1 defeat by France, and Natalia Saratovtseva.
Swift goalDefender Abbé gave Switzerland a dream start within 45 seconds when she headed in a free-kick. Soon after Maeva Sarrasin, who scored a solo goal against the Dutch, almost repeated the trick but Kristina Slashchinina saved. Russia soon began to pose a threat themselves down the right through Morozova and Danilova, who forced the first stop from Swiss goalkeeper Stenia Michel after some clever footwork.
Schwarz deniedThe rest of the first half was an entertaining affair with both teams pushing forward and ended with a moment of drama. Schwarz forced her way through the Russian back line and chipped the ball on to the crossbar; Sarrasin won the race to the rebound but hit the side-netting and on the break Danilova was only denied by Michel.
Danilova doubleHowever, the Swiss goalkeeper was powerless six minutes into the second half when Morozova crossed and Danilova headed in from close range. Michel denied the goalscorer ten minutes later, but on the hour Morozova and Danilova combined again to put Russia ahead, the No9 latching on to a fine centre, fooling her markers and shooting inside the far post.
Late chancesSix minutes later a hat-trick seemed certain as Elena Terekova found Danilova in front of goal but Michel's reactions were superb, and she also did well to save a long-range Terekova drive. Sarrasin had a great chance to equalise on 76 minutes when she broke clear but her shot went wide and Switzerland, who came close twice at the death, could have lost by more had Danilova taken one of her late chances. Nevertheless, her contribution had already been decisive.
Player of the match: Elena Morozova (Russia)
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