Hungarian U17 national team defeats Wales with three-goal victory!

This was the team’s first competitive match under national coach Attila Belvon, since as hosts, playing European Championship qualifiers hadn’t been necessary. Opponents Wales, on the other hand, progressed from their qualifying groups both in autumn and spring, defeating both Croatia and Sweden on their way to this latest edition of UEFA U17 European Championship.

Although there wasn’t a full house at the Nándor Hidegkuti Stadium in Budapest, the fans created a great atmosphere in the arena from the outset. Hungary started the match a little nervously and several errors were evident as Wales dominated possession for the first half an hour or so, the visitors creating two opportunities in that time.

Szilárd Szabó’s goal is celebrated by the players during the Hungary-Wales match. The host Hungarian team defeated Wales 3-0. Source: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák

Firstly, in the 19th minute, Hatch headed narrowly wide, then in the 31st minute Morgan hit the post. The hosts threatened from corners and free kicks at this stage of the game and it wasn’t until the 41st minute that their first really big chance was created, when Attila Girsik’s superb pass sent Benedek Simon in on goal, but instead of shooting, he tried to go around goalkeeper Margetson and from an acute angle he could only shoot wide.

The Honvéd forward made amends just two minutes later though, latching on to Ádám Bagi’s pass, turning away from his defender and dispatching the ball into Wales’s net.

Wales started the second half in busier fashion, but the first clear sight of goal fell to Benedek Simon again, when he reached Varga’s pass and stroked the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper, only to miss the target by a few centrimetres.

The Hungarian national team before the start of the Hungary-Wales match in the 1st round of the group stage of the U17 European Football Championship at the New Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium on 17 May 2023.
Source: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák

In the 69th minute, Belvon made two substitutions, Csaba Molnár and Szilárd Szabó entered the field of play and they both made an almost immediate impact, Molnár shooting at goal from the left channel and Szabó converting the ball which had rebounded off the goalkeeper into the net from close range.

Hungary continued to threaten Wales’s backline and the match was finally decided in the 81st minute when a corner from the left found Ádám Umathum and he slid the ball into the net for Hungary’s third unanswered goal of the game.

There were no further goals, so Hungary can be very satisfied with their well-deserved opening victory, thanks largely to an excellent second-half display.

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

Hungary: Áron Yaakobishvili – Attila Girsik, Ádám Umathum, Dominik Kaczvinszki, Csaba Hornyák – Zétény Varga (Csaba Molnár, 69), Noah Fenyő (Manuel Burghart, 90), Martin Kern (Bence Somfalvi, 80), Hunor Németh – Benedek Simon (Mátyás Vidnyánszki, 80), Ádám Bagi (Szilárd Szabó, 69). Head coach: Attila Belvon

Wales: Margetson – Thomas, Clarke, Lawlor, Beecher – Perret, Crew, Andrews – Biancheri, Morgan, Hatch. Head coach: Craig Knight

Goalscorers: Simon (43), Szabó (74), Á. Umathum. (81).