Hungary Women draw in Nations League debut

2023. szeptember. 24., 23:38 |

Margret Kratz's squad marked their first ever Nations League fixture with a 1-1 draw away in Albania.

The Nations League is now underway in women's football too and Hungary have been drawn in Division B alongside Albania, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The tournament system is almost identical to the men's version, so the winner of the group will be promoted to division A, the next two teams stay in division B for the next edition and the last-placed team is relegated to division C.

Dóra Zeller was first to threaten the goal in the fourth minute of this inaugural fixture, then again in the 15th minute, but neither effort was successful. In the middle of a competitive first half, the hosts were awarded a free kick, and although they couldn't score from that, they did from the resulting corner, Qendresa Krasniqi edging Albania in front in the 27th minute.

Hungary tried in vain to level matters before the half-time break but their efforts were finally rewarded in the 74th minute, when Evelin Fenyvesi scored from Fanni Vachter's corner. Both sides went for victory in the remaining minutes butneither was successful, the final result remaining 1-1.

Hungary continue their campaign against Republic of Ireland at home in Budapest on 26th September.

"We really played well in the first half and had plenty of long-range efforts at goal, but after a time we became a bit anxious and the second half turned out to be worse than the first, even though that was when our equaliser came. Unfortunately, two of our key players were unable to travel with us and we missed them in defence. On top of that, another defensive player was taken ill in the morning and one more needed to be replaced during the match. Nevertheless, I'm very happy because the girls on the pitch gave everything", Kratz commented after the game.

Albania 1–1 Hungary (HT: 1–0)
Hungary (surnames first): Szőcs Réka – Németh Diána, Németh Hanna, Nagy Fanni (Palakovics Laura, 46.), Vida Boglárka (Nagy Virág, 74.) – Szabó Viktória (Vachter Fanni, 66.), Fenyvesi Evelin, Papp Luca, Zeller Dóra – Pápai Emőke (Siber Glória, 66.) – Kaján Zsanett.