Spain and Republic of Ireland failed to produce a goal in 100 minutes of football, in the UEFA U-17 Chanmpionship Final in Nyon, Switzerland.

Amanda Sampedro had a goal disallowed and was also denied by the post, while Aileen Gilroy went closest for the Irish, her 25-yard drive forcing a fine save from Dolores Gallardo and a late effort from Niamh McLaughlin found the side-netting.

Few opportunities arose in extra-time, with tired legs and energy-sapping heat.

When it came down to penalties, the Irish were always in trouble, having their first two saved by Gallardo. Mérida and Laura netted for Spain, while Jarrett and Gleeson failed. Sampedro and O’Brien were then both successful, before Catala’s spot-kick gave Spain the title.

In the third place play-off, Germany beat the Netherlands 3-0, with Lena Petermann, Melanie Leupolz and Silvana Chojnowski all on target.

Spain U-17s: Dolores Gallardo, Ana Sáenz de Pipaon, Ana Maria Catala, Ivana Andrés, Laura Gutiérrez, Marina García, Amanda Sampedro, Alexia Putellas Segura (Arene Altonaga, 87), Iraia Perez de Heredia (Nagore Calderón, 70), Sara Mérida, Raquel Pinel (Paloma Lazaro, 58).

Unused subs – Berta Noguera, Gema Gili, Sara Tazo, Paula Nicar.

Republic of Ireland U-17s: Grace Moloney, Ciara O’Brien, Megan Campbell (Harriet Scott, 49), Jessica Gleeson, Jennifer Byrne, Ciara Grant, Aileen Gilroy (Rianna Jarrett, 96), Dora Gorman, Denise O’Sullivan, Siobhan Killeen (Niamh McLaughlin, 69), Stacie Donnelly.

Unused subs – Amanda Budden, Tanya Kennedy, Kerry Ann Glynn, Clare Shine.

http://www.shekicks.net

United Against Malaria (UAM) is a community of organizations and individuals that has joined together ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to unite in the fight against malaria.

With the tournament now well under way, UAM wants you to ‘Sign the ball’ to show your support for the cause. Add your name and join the winning team that will beat malaria.

Supporters of the cause include Cameroon legend Roger Milla, USA striker Landon Donovan, Manchester City and Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, Malian striker Frederic Kanoute and French World Cup winner Patrick Vieira.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is Africa’s World Cup and is being used as the perfect occasion to help UAM to raise international awareness of the disease. By acting now, an unprecedented increase in mosquito net coverage across Africa can be achieved by the end of 2010, saving millions of lives by the next World Cup in 2014.

Join the team at UAM by signing the ball on facebook and becoming a supporter of the campaign. Also, you can follow UAM on Twitter, like them on Facebook and check out the latest news and updates at the United Against Malaria website.

Pledge your support to end malaria and sign the ball here.

Powell and her squad were already in Spain preparing for their key Group Five encounter when she received a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

“It’s a good position to be in,” she said referring to their 100% record.

“Whatever the starting line-up we’ll go into the game confident but knowing we’ll have to be totally focused.”

Victory against their toughest group rivals at Aranda de Duero will leave them needing only one point from their last two qualifiers to top the group. The last time England met Spain, they came out on top with a narrow 1-0 win.

The England squad is as follows: Brown (Everton), Bardsley (New Jersey Sky Blue), Chamberlain (Chelsea), A. Scott (Boston Breakers), Susi (Chelsea), Johnson (Everton), F. White (Arsenal), Stoney (Chelsea), Bassett (Leeds Carnegie), Bradley (Leeds Carnegie), Unitt (Everton), Rafferty (Chelsea), J. Scott (Everton), Williams (Everton), Smith (Boston Breakers), Carney (Chicago Red Stars), Chapman (Chicago Red Stars), Yankey (Arsenal), Clarke (Leeds Carnegie), E. White (Leeds Carnegie), Aluko (Atlanta Beat), Sanderson (Philadelphia Independence).

To read more, visit the BBC website

ACA Sports and Scottish Women’s Football have renewed their official partnership, which will see the Scottish retailer remain Official Online Retailers for the SWF into 2011.

The SWF and ACA Sports will be also launching an official Mitre Matchball, which will be available to all SWF member clubs, allowing them to purchase their own branded Mitre Max Matchball in a colourway exclusive to the SWF.

“We are delighted to renew our partnership with the SWF,” says Alistair Cameron, managing director of ACA Sports.

“The introduction of the exclusive Matchball is a very exciting move and we are looking forward to continuing our work with the SWF clubs.

“Scottish Women’s Football continues to go from strength to strength and the introduction of summer football has been a great success.

The full story appears here – http://bit.ly/9oXjbe

Hi folks

We have upped our game on facebook, and now have a brand new fan page. We would love it if you could join us on there, and help to share in our news, videos and other fun bits – why not upload some of your own footy pics or videos?

We’d love to see you on our page, come and ‘like’ us and let us hear what you have to say about all things 3style, footy, and fun!

Join now HERE

The final to UEFA’s newest competition is almost with us.

To mark the occasion, UEFA have launched their new online magazine – http://uelimag.uefa.com/en/

The UEFA Europa League has proved in its debut season that many teams, and many wonderful fans, across the continent can share in the desire, adventure and glory of European football. And now Fulham FC and Club Atlético de Madrid, two of Europe’s strongest teams, meet in Hamburg. UEFA hopes this new online magazine – combining action footage, fans’ adventures and player interviews – will whet your appetite for Wednesday night.

In addition to all the other great content, the site also contains a competition to win tickets to next season’s final http://uelimag.uefa.com/en/content/#id=9.

A 119th-minute goal from Natasha Dowie gave Everton their first taste of success in The FA Women’s Cup as her late strike saw the Toffees defeat ten-time victors Arsenal 3-2 at The City Ground.

With the game seemingly heading for the dreaded penalty shoot-out, substitute Brooke Chaplen fed Dowie inside the box and the forward showed remarkable calm under the circumstances to lift the ball over the on-rushing Emma Byrne in the Arsenal goal and give Mo Marley’s side their first piece of silverware since 2008, and in doing so, inflicting Arsenal’s first defeat at this stage of the competition.

It was no more than Everton deserved, having stood toe-to-toe with the Gunners for the majority of the game and were the better side for large parts of the match, despite having to weather a concerted spell of Arsenal pressure midway through the second half.

Dowie had given Everton the lead after 16 minutes, but Kim Little equalised from the penalty spot after Rachel Unitt felled Gemma Davison inside the box. Before half-time Everton were again ahead when Arsenal captain Faye White inadvertently headed a Toni Duggan cross into her own net. But Julie Fleeting grabbed a second equaliser early in the second half, which ultimately forced the extra half-an-hour.

Extra-time was void of many clear-cut chances but Dowie’s dramatic late winner ensured The Cup would be heading out of London for the first time in 16 years.

For the full story, visit The FA website
Arsenal
1 Emma Byrne, 2 Corinne Yorston, 5 Gilly Flaherty, 6 Faye White (C), 7 Ciara Grant, 10 Julie Fleeting (28 Danielle Carter, 70), 11 Rachel Yankey, 12 Gemma Davison, 14 Jennifer Beattie, 16 Kim Little, 19 Niamh Fahey
Substitutes not used 3 Yvonne Tracy, 13 Rebecca Spencer, 20 Helen Lander, 25 Lauren Bruton

Manager Laura Harvey

Everton
1 Rachel Brown, 2 Becky Easton, 3 Rachel Unitt (15 Fern Whelan,63), 4 Fara Williams, 5 Emily Westwood, 6 Lindsay Johnson, 7 Jody Handley (C), 8 Jill Scott, 9 Natasha Dowie, 10 Michelle Hinnigan (14 Brooke Chaplen, 77), 11 Toni Duggan (16 Michelle Evans, 111)
Substitutes not used 12 Alex Culvin, 13 Nicola Hobbs

Manager Mo Marley

Attendance 17,505

Her side have once again taken the women’s game by storm this season despite the departure of some key players and long-term manager Vic Akers last summer.

“This season we have had a lot of changes, it’s been quite difficult and we’ve had players leave,” the 30-year-old reflected.

Alex Scott, Karen Carney and Kelly Smith all left the London club last year after being lured to the recently formed Women’s Professional Soccer League in America. Midfielder Katie Chapman joined them in the States in February.

“It’s given a chance for the younger players to come through and we’re not complaining that we lost them, we wish them the best of luck,” Yankey added.

Arsenal’s Ladies have now won eight games in a row after their 4-1 League win over Nottingham Forest on Thursday night and the England and Arsenal winger is hopeful they can keep up the run in The FA Women’s Cup against Everton.

“We’ll give everything we can give and we’ll try our best and hopefully we can maintain that.

“It was actually quite a tough game against Forest to be honest, but we feel confident and happy to go in to The Final.”

The Gunners have never lost a Final in The FA Women’s Cup, winning the competition an impressive ten times since the team was formed in 1987. They will be looking to add to that number with a win on Monday.

“It would be fantastic. Especially this season because people have written us off and said we’re not the team that we were.

“I think with the players that we’ve lost people need to give us a little bit of credit. To keep battling on and winning eight games in a row is pretty hard for any team to do but we seem to be doing that.”

Everton have been Arsenal’s closest competitors in recent years and this season is no different. The stage is set for an entertaining Final at The City Ground.

“Leeds and Chelsea have been pushing it all the way, but I think at the final hurdle it always does to come down to Arsenal and Everton, so it will be exciting on Monday,” Yankey concluded.

For more info, and to book tickets visit the FA website

Nike-GridThe GRID will divide London into 40 postcodes – 10 North, 10 South, 10 East and 10 West – with several GRID phone boxes in each, which act as game markers.

Players need to register at www.nikegrid.com, to receive their unique code. This personal code allows them to activate and log their run (entering their code at the start / finish phone box).

Starting at one phone box, players must find the fastest route to another phone box, all within one game postcode. So you can win by running the fastest, flaunting the most stamina or knowing your neighbourhood well enough to sneak the insider routes.

Points are awarded for speed, endurance and stamina and player’s progress is tracked online. After 24 hours, winners from each postcode will be crowned and the streets will be claimed!

London grime artist – Tempa T – has collaborated with Nike to create the track I PAR a freestyle track inspired by The GRID. The fastest lyrical ‘spitter’ is motivating runners to pick up their pace before they play the game. Produced by Skitz Beatz, the video featuring Tempa T performing the track is available to view via You Tube.

Register to play at www.nikegrid.com/, and receive latest news and updates by becoming a fan of The GRID Facebook page – www.facebook.com/nikegrid.