Wales out of Europe as Finland score late winner

Under-19s international: Wales 1-2 Finland

A disappointing footballing week for Wales’s women was rounded off appropriately as Finland came from behind to edge a 2-1 win in their UEFA Under-19 Championship qualifier.

Wales needed to win to retain any hope of qualifying for the summer’s finals in Turkey, but conceded a 90th-minute winner at Scunthorpe United’s Glanford Park.

Defender Lauren Price gave Wales hope when she put her side ahead 11 minutes into the second half, but a Nora Heroum strike six minutes later restored parity.

And when substitute Ella-Rosa Huusko netted in injury time, Wales were sent to the bottom of Group 6 on goal difference – thanks to succumbing to England 6-0 – with their Scandinavian opponents leapfrogging them into third place.

Meanwhile England, who beat Austria 1-0 to achieve a clean sweep in the second round of qualifiers, join Norway, Sweden, Romania, Serbia and Spain at the eight-team tournament. Hosts Turkey and one other nation will complete the line-up.

Wales are set to host next year’s event, something which will provide the women’s game with a boost after today’s under-19 disappointment and yesterday’s overpowering by France in the senior version.