Hungary’s Under-17s qualify for European Championship

Hungary’s Under-17 team defeated Norway 1-0 courtesy of a last-gasp wonder-strike from Dominik Szoboszlai, a result which sees them qualify for the Uefa European Under-17 Championship finals in Croatia as group winners.

Hungary’s campaign in the Elite round of the Uefa European Under -17 Championship qualifiers had, going into the final round of matches, been a story of late goals; Ilay Hen bagging a 79th minute winner for Israel on matchday one and Dominik Szoboszlai scoring with direct free-kicks in the 74th and 84th minutes as Hungary came from behind to defeat Russia 2-1 at the new Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion on matchday two.

For Norway – with a draw and a victory in their first two matches – a draw would have sufficed for qualification, whereas Zoltán Szélesi’s charges required victory to be sure of progressing. Neither team undertook too risky a strategy in the first half, Norway content to sit back and primarily look to score from set-piece situations whereas Hungary, although showing more attacking intent, found it hard to carve out clear goalscoring opportunities.

The closest the hosts came was midway through the half when team captain Dominik Szoboszlai shot wide of goal, and then just before the half-time whistle when Szabolcs Schön fired straight at Norway goalkeeper Mads Christiansen.

Norman Timári almost broke the deadlock early in the second half, his low shot being blocked by Christiansen after a rapid Hungarian counter-attack. Christiansen then palmed a Schön effort round the post for a corner not long after, but Hungary found it increasingly difficult to break down a resolute Norway team seemingly content to sit back and see the game out for the draw they needed.