Women’s Under-17s defeat Romania

Hungary Women’s Under-17 team face Poland, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan in their European Championship qualification round group in early October, the objective for Dorottya Schumi’s side being to qualify for next spring’s elite round.

Two debutants were involved in the match against Romania held in Gyula on Monday, Zsófia Székely of FC Basel and Sarah Bieder of FC Sand taking to the pitch for the first time in Hungary colours.

Both teams had chances to score in a goalless first half but Romania broke the deadlock immediately after the break. Hungarian captain Emőke Pápai restored parity almost immediately though, levelling in the 50th minute. Substitute Rebeka Sali scored with her first touch of the match in the 82nd minute to put Hungary ahead before Pápai bagged her second and Hungary’s third in time added-on to set the final score at 3-1.

The return match will be played in Sânmartin on Thursday.

“I can see that we have much work to carry out with the team before the European Championship qualifiers. We aren’t quite there physically yet; a few players were suffering with cramp before the end. The motivation for the girls is to be playing for a place in the elite round. It’s becoming clear who can be counted on to make the final squad. We still have two matches against Bosnia-Hercegovina to come as well as one against Haladás Viktória. We don’t have much time, but we’ll do our utmost. This victory is a good sign, and we’re delighted that we succeeded in turning the match around”, Schumi told mlsz.hu after the match.

Hungary 3-1 Romania (HT: 0-0)

Hungarian goalscorers: Pápai (50’, 90+2’), Sali (82’)

Hungary: Dorina Borók – Patrícia Vígh, Mira Maráz, Anna Sain, Boglárka Vida – Cecília Mészáros (Emma Lovász, 46’), Glória Siber (Rebeka Sali, 81’), Zsófia Székely (Alexandra Antalicz, 62’), Blanka Bokor (Csilla Savanya, 68’) – Emőke Pápai, Sarah Biedert (Zsófia Csizmadia, 46’)