Under 18 European championship

Spain 3 - Belgium 1

Spain: Víctor; Zubiaurre, Diego Alegre, Navarro, Paredes; Arteta, Galindo (Parri 55'); Elías (Jacinto 67'), Oscar (Roberto 55'), Nano; Perona.

Non playing substitutes: Javi López, Rubén, Bordas, Riera.

Valkeakoski, Finland. Spain qualified for the third place play off after defeating Belgium in the final group match. Barcelona's Jorge Perona was the hero of the night with a hat-trick, but with Poland defeating Denmark 3-2 it was not enough to take them to the top of their group. Perona opened the scoring in the eighth minute converting a deep pass from Elias, but Walasiak headed an equaliser before half time. Fifteen minutes from the end Perona put Spain back in the lead heading Zubiarre's cross past the keeper, and he wrapped things up in the last minute from the penalty spot after Nano was brought down. The youngsters will take on Yugoslavia on Sunday morning for the bronze medal, with Poland playing the Czech Republic in the final later in the day. (26.07.01)