U-17: Italy and Serbia through

Italy and Serbia grabbed the two Elite round berths on offer in the last UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying round group - and their wins against Andorra and Malta were good news for Wales.

Before Group 4 started, Wales were the third-placed team from the eleven pools already completed with the best record against the top two in their mini-tournament. And after Italy and Serbia had each overcome both Andorra and the Maltese hosts on Friday and Sunday, Wales knew that their place in the Elite round draw on 5 December, like that of Italy and Serbia, was secure.

Serbia, who qualified for the 2006 finals in conjunction with Montenegro, took six minutes to take the lead against Malta on Matchday 1 in Hamrun through Milan Prso. Although Chris Mackay, Sheldon Grech and Mark Scerri went close for Malta, Vujadin Savic secured the points for Serbia four minutes from time.

At the same venue, Argentinian-born Genoa prospect Fernando Forestieri put Italy ahead 28 minutes in against Andorra. On the hour mark substitute Alberto Paloschi made it 2-0 and late on Forestieri and another replacement, Vincenzo Nitride, doubled the lead despite a valiant display for Andorra goalkeeper Oriol Oliva.

On Matchday 2 the action moved to sunny Corradino but Andorra again suffered a 4-0 defeat, this time at the hands of Serbia. Igor Misan struck on 20 minutes and added his second just after Prso had found the target late in the first half, with Savic again claiming a late goal.

Italy then ensured they, Serbia and Wales would progress as they also put four past Malta, starting with Paloschi's header in the 27th minute after the hosts had made a promising start. Federico Masi headed in just before the hour mark and Paloschi and Forestieri had time to take their mini-tournament goal tallies to three.

There was still first place to play for in the final match in Hamrun, and with Italy only needing a point against Serbia the 0-0 draw proved enough. Italy coach Luca Gotti told said: "We put up solid performances but not excellent in my view. Against Serbia we put up a very good performance in the first half, but then relaxed allowing our - very good - opponents to play. I must mention the Malta side, who in my view gave 110 per cent against us. Generally speaking I am happy with the qualification, which is always our number one priority."

Third position belonged to Malta after they won 1-0 against Andorra in Corradino with Miguel Ciantar scoring on the half-hour after being set up by Mark Scerri.