Hungary Under-17 team beat Kosovo to win group

Having already qualified for the Elite Round courtesy of victories over Wales and the Netherlands in their first two matches, Zoltán Szélesi’s team took to the field at a sun-drenched Szusza Ferenc Stadion in Újpest seeking to secure first place in the group.

Things didn’t go to plan in the first half however, Kosovo dictating play and taking the lead after quarter of an hour, Florian Hysenaj slotting home coolly after being sent clear by Leonard Uka. With a lacklustre Hungary struggling to threaten the visitors’ goal, Kosovo were deserved leaders as the teams broke for half-time.

Szélesi made a double substitution at the break, Marcell Papp and Tibor Csala coming on in place of Bence Bokor and Dominik Cipf, the change paying dividends within minutes as Kristóf Tóth-Gábor brought parity to the proceedings as he fired low into the corner after receiving a pass from Csaba Bukta.

Hungary remained on the front-foot thereafter, the Kosovo defence visibly tiring under the onslaught. By the 71st minute Hungary were ahead, Kristóf Tóth-Gábor once again the scorer as he fired low in the left-hand corner at the second attempt following a ball into the box from Patrik Nyári.

The home team could have increased their lead but for some wayward finishing, but finally scored a third goal in injury-time, Csala tapping home from close-range to put the game beyond any doubt.

The victory means that Hungary qualify as group-winners, with three wins from three, ahead of the Netherlands, Wales and Kosovo. The team now goes into the draw for the Elite Round, which shall be held in the Spring with a place in the European Championship up for grabs.

“The first half didn’t go as we’d discussed beforehand, but after the break we were able to turn things around; the substitutions at half-time shook the team up a little. It was the third match we’ve played within a few days and the players were a little tired; at such times it’s often better to conserve energy and choose the simple option but in the first half we didn’t do that. I’m happy that we gave a good second-half performance. Overall the boys played some good football in each of the matches; they ran their hearts out, and played well as a unit” said head coach Zoltán Szélesi after the match.

Hungary 3–1 Kosovo (0–1) 
Goalscorers: HUN: Tóth-Gábor (47’, 70’), Csala (80+2’); KOS: Hysenaj (15’) 
Hungary: Ágoston Kiss – Bence Bokor (Marcell Papp 41’), Benedek Varju, Patrik Nyári, László Papp – Bence Máté Kocsis, Adrián Márton (Péter Beke 60’), Gergő Irimiás – Csaba Bukta, Kristóf Tóth-Gábor, Dominik Cipf (Tibor Csala 41’)