Hungary Women battle gamely but fall to Germany

Hungary Women fought bravely and were always within range of producing a shock result from their home fixture against 2016 Olympic champions Germany this week, but an unfortunate first-half own goal from Viktoria Szabó proved the difference as the hosts ended their ultimately unsuccessful Euro 2017 campaign with a narrow loss in Gyirmót, mlsz.hu reports.

Edina Markó’s side started in a 4-1-4-1 formation and began well, the two Bundesliga-based players Csiszár and Jakabfi keen to show their club colleagues and opponents from the German league that Hungary would be no roll-overs. Unfortunately the visitors scored a goal from nothing in the 29th minute, a left-wing corner being headed into the far, right corner of her own net by Viktoria Szabó under pressure from two attackers nearby.

The goal didn’t change the pattern of the match, Germany dominating possession and a stoic Hungary struggling to threaten in attack. The second half was all about whether the German goal could be breached for the first time in this whole qualifying campaign but Jakabfi spurned the best chance 17 minutes from full-time, sliding the ball wide of the right post from Tálosi’s curling free-kick. Ágnes Nagy came on for her debut towards the end but couldn’t change the status quo, Germany claiming all three points courtesy of this single-goal success.

Hungary 0–1 Germany (0–1)
Hungary: Szőcs Réka – Demeter Réka, Tálosi Szabina, Szabó Viktória, Tóth Gabriella – Csiszár Henriett – Szarvas Alexandra (Rácz Zsófia 73.), Fenyvesi Evelin (Nagy Ágnes 88.), Vágó Fanni (Nagy Lilla 82.), Zeller Dóra – Jakabfi Zsanett.
Goalscorer: Szabó Viktória (29′, own goal)

2017 European championship qualifiers, Group 5
Final standings

1. Germany 8-0-0 35-0 24 points
2. Russia 4-2-2 14-9 14 points
3. Hungary 2-2-4 8-20 8 points
4. Croatia 2-1-5 8-15 7 points
5. Turkey 1-1-6 3-24 4 points

Photo: mlsz.hu

Source: MLSZ