Under 19 European championship

Slovakia 1 - Spain 3

Spain: Moyà; Zubiaurre, Jarque, Melli, Peña; Solabarrieta, Iniesta (Jonan 78'); Pina, Sergio García (Corominas 85'), Reyes (Carmelo 55'); Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 05. Cech. Well struck free kick which beat keeper Moyà.
1-1. 15. Sergio García. Latched on to bad back pass by Konecny to score.
1-2. 70. Fernando Torres. Headed past keeper after cross in from Carmelo.
1-3. 90. Fernando Torres. Beat Kostolani after pass in from Jonan.

Group A league table (after 3 games):
Spain 7 points
Slovakia 6 points
Czech Republic 4 points
Norway 0 points

Spain qualified for Sunday's final after coming from behind to beat Slovakia in their last group match. Iñaki Saéz's boys needed to beat the high scoring East Europeans to top their group, but they found themselves behind early on when Cech beat Mallorca keeper Moyà with a well struck free kick. Ten minutes later though a bad back pass by Konecny let in Barcelona striker Sergio García for him to equalise with his first goal of the tournament.

The rest of the first half was end to end stuff, with Slovakia going close through their leading scorer Sebo on the breakaway and Fernando Torres shooting just over the bar. Shortly after the break Saéz had to replace the injured Reyes for the second time in three games, but his replacement Carmelo was to prove the match winner, cutting in from the right to set up Fernando Torres to head his side in front.

Slovakia came back strongly, and Moyà made the save of the night four minutes from the end from Sloboda. But after Carmelo hit the crossbar, substitute Jonan put through Torres in the last minute for him to wrap things up. Spain go on, probably to play Germany, in Sunday evening's final, and Slovakia have to make do with the third and fourth place play off. (25.07.02)