Women’s U17s: Hungary fall to three-goal loss to England

With England having defeated Georgia 8-0 and Hungary being held to a 1-1 draw by Greece on Matchday 1 last Thursday, Hungary had to at least avoid defeat against their English opponents in Gyirmót on Sunday to retain a chance of topping the group and making it to the finals in Bulgaria in May.

Group-favourites England began strongly but without seriously endangering the Hungarian goal, Emőke Pápai clearing the ball ahead of Eleanor Dale in the 11th minute after a moment of defensive uncertainty from Dorottya Schumi’s team. At the other end, Hungary almost took the lead themselves in the 17th minute, Beatrix Fördős unable to direct her shot on target following a Luca Papp corner from the left.

Further defensive uncertainty was to prove the undoing of Hungary as England scored twice within the space of four minutes around the half-hour mark. First, Petra Halla failed to hold the ball following a Lucy Johnson corner on the right in the 29th minute, Dale heading home from five yards. Next, indecision from Halla and Fördős allowed Dale to nip in and convert a Keri Matthews cross from the right in the 32nd minute.

Hungary continued to compete but lacked lustre in the final third, and the match was all but over as a contest by the 48th minute when half-time substitute Francesca Stables rifled home on the half-volley after Hungary had failed to clear a long ball from Maya Le Tissier.

Things went from bad to worse for Hungary not long after, striker Vanessza Nagy landing awkwardly and being stretchered off with a suspected neck injury, ETO Győr player Réka Zsédely taking her place.

Fourteen-year-old Csilla Savanya almost scored a consolation for Hungary in the 66th minute, spotting Emily Orman off her line and shooting just over the bar from 30 yards, but Hungary were unable to carve their way into the deficit as the match ended 3-0. The result means that Hungary can no longer qualify for the finals in Bulgaria this summer, whilst England will book their place so long as they avoid defeat to Greece in Pápa on Wednesday. Greece remain in contention courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Georgia.

“The two first-half goals decided the match. We held our own at the beginning and were a match for England, and it’s unfortunate that it was 3-0 in the end because we could have got more from the match. The girls fought well. Perhaps if we hadn’t conceded the two first-half goals it would have been a different story. We did our utmost to score in the second half, but it wasn’t to be. We’ll freshen up the team for the match against Georgia, and I’m certain we’ll play a good match” said head coach Dorottya Schumi.

England 3-0 Hungary (HT: 2-0)
Goalscorers: Dale (29’, 32’), Stables (48’)
Hungary: Petra Halla – Kata Buzás, Emőke Pápai, Beatrix Fördős, Rebeka Róth – Csilla Savanya, Luca Papp (Réka Gaál, 75’), Szandra Ploner – Laura Palakovics (Török Lilla, 14’), Vanessza Nagy (Réka Zsédely, 58’), Fanni Nagy.