Sweden Women too good for depleted Hungary

Sweden, the 2019 Women's World Cup bronze-medallists, were already a daunting first competitive opponent for Edina Markó's Hungary team in this year of 2020, but save for an 11th-minute goal scored by Lina Hurtig from a corner, a visiting team disrupted by absences, many of which were caused by coronavirus cases and related enforced isolation, coped admirably and a stoic defence kept their opponents at bay, goalkeeper Barbara Bíró weighing in with an impressive save in the 36th minute to save her team from a further concession.

The team's task was complicated by Bíró's 42nd-minute red card though, incurred for a foul on the opposing striker just outside Hungary's penalty area. That meant debutant goalkeeper Fruzsina Schildkraut came on for outfield player Dóra Süle, Bíró now also suspended for Hungary's next match away in Latvia on Tuesday. Fortunately, the free kick was weak, but the DVTK goalkeeper was forced to make a save near the end of the half to ensure the scoreline didn't change again before the break.

In the 56th minute, Zsanett Jakabfi had a sight of goal via a free kick from a good 30 metres, but couldn't score a shock equaliser and instead it was Sweden who scored just three minutes later, again after a corner, when Anna Anvegard headed the ball into the net. The attacks became more regular and the floodgates eventually opened, Anvegard completing a 13-minute hat-trick, Chelsea's Magdalena Eriksson scoring from another corner, Hurtig doubling her personal tally and Amanda Ilestedt adding another as Sweden led 7-0 after 71 minutes.

In the 77th minute, Ferencváros' 19-year-old Virag Nagy came on for her international debut and she joined her team in defending heroically for the rest of the match, Sweden only scoring once more, in added time through Linda Sembrant.

Edina Markó was upbeat after the final whistle and understandably preferred to focus on her team's impressive first-half performance: "We did everything we could on the pitch and regardless of the result, I am proud of my players. In the first half, we showed what we are capable of. Then came the red card and against such a world-class team, any national team would have struggled. We have nothing to be ashamed of, the battling qualities I have seen from the girls being a real cause for pride. We have to carry on with that mentality as it’s true we’ve never had a problem with our attitude. In such a situation, even after such a second half, the team didn't collapse and mainly conceded goals from setpieces, at which they are better and with which we could not deal here".

Sweden 8-0 Hungary (HT: 1-0)

GOALS:
Lina Hurtig (11)
Anna Anvegård (58)
Anna Anvegård (64)
Magdalena Ericsson (66)
Lina Hurtig (68)
Amanda Ilestedt (70)
Anna Anvegård (71)
Linda Sembrant (90)