France won the UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship for the first time after a Spain comeback was ended with a red card.
The final in Tallinn remained goalless until a swift counter attack saw Mélinda Mendy play in Liana Joseph to beat keeper Alazne Estensoro.
Joseph scored again ten minutes later from Lou Autin’s long ball, and when Vicky Lopez fouled Maeline Mendy in the box, the France captain converted the penalty herself.
Vicky hit back with a quickfire brace, curling a shot past Alyssa Fernandes and lobbing in following a corner to make it 3-2.
But deep into added time, Spain had Aïcha Cámara sent off for bringing down Naolia Traore when through on goal.
Joseph, Maeline Mendy and Vicky finished level as joint finals top scorers on five goals. Including qualifying, Mendy and Joseph were equal with England’s Ava Baker and Germany’s Estrella Merino Gonzalez on ten.
