Hungary Women finish year with Latvia success

Having recorded their first point in Group F last week courtesy of a 0-0 draw away to Slovakia, Hungary’s women were looking to end the year on a high with victory over Latvia in their fourth qualification fixture, this one being held at the Haladás Sportcomplexum in Szombathely. Head coach Edina Markó made two changes to the team which started in Senec, Dóra Papp coming on for Evelin Mosdóczi at right-back and Evelin Fenyvesi replacing Bernadett Zágor in midfield.

Hungary started strongly, Anna Csiki testing Marija Ibragimova in the Latvia goal as early as the second minute, and they went a goal up in the thirteenth minute as Zsanett Jakabfi tucked the ball home into an empty net after being teed up by Dóra Zeller, who had been sent clear in the left channel by Fenyvesi.

Fanni Vágó was twice denied by Ibragimova within the space of a few seconds in the 22nd minute and in the 31st she had the ball in the net after her own penalty had come back off the post, the goal not being given due to no other player having touched the ball after her initial spotkick. Hungary only had to wait a few more minutes to double their lead though, Zeller firing into the top-right corner from twenty-five yards out in the 36th minute, as the home side went in two ahead at the break.

Hungary continued to create chances in the second half, Fenyvesi shooting just wide in the 53rd minute before scoring with a deflected effort two minutes later. Seventeen-year-old Sára Pusztai came on for her competitive full-international debut on the hour, and the Ferencváros striker completed the scoring in the 77th minute, shooting home from six yards off the underside of the bar after a Petra Kocsán effort was deflected into her path. There was still time for Barbara Bíró to save a Latvia penalty with five minutes left to play, Dóra Papp being dismissed for a second yellow card in the process. Hungary thus kept a clean sheet for the second match in a row as they finish the year in third spot in the group, five points behind leaders Sweden and Iceland.

Speaking after the match, Hungary head coach Edina Markó commented that: “It’s always difficult against supposedly weaker opponents when you’re expected to dictate play and force the pace. We spoke at half-time about having to take the game to Latvia and increase the tempo despite the wet surface. We shouldn’t read too much into today’s result; we know how much work lies ahead of us but we are progressing. Overall, I’m delighted about today’s victory; it’s a step forward”.

Hungary 4-0 Latvia

Goalscorers: Jakabfi (13’), Zeller (36’), Fenyvesi (56’), Pusztai (77’)

Hungary: Bíró – Papp, Turányi, V. Szabó, Csiki (Pinczi, 46’) – Fenyvesi, Csiszár, Rácz – Jakabfi (Pusztai, 60’), Vágó, Zeller (Kocsán, 73’)