Hungary v Scotland
UEFA Women’s European Qualifiers – Round 1 Play-Off
Friday, 25 October, KO 5.15pm (UK)
Bozsik Arena, Budapest  

Scorers

Hungary 0

Scotland 1 (Thomas 60’)

Team news

There were four changes to the team that faced Serbia in the summer. Caroline Weir returned to the starting XI for the first time in over 12 months and pulled on the captain’s armband in the absence of Rachel Corsie. Goalkeeper Lee Gibson also made the starting line-up with Jenna Clark and Claire Emslie. Eartha Cumings dropped out alongside Chelsea Cornet and Kirsty Smith. 

As it happened…

Hungary got proceedings underway in front of a buoyant home support and it was a physical battle from the start. Scotland’s first decent chance came on 9 minutes as Evans whipped a hopeful ball in from deep, a header from Thomas flew wide. A few minutes later, Cuthbert was fouled at the edge of the box, the resulting free-kick saw Weir drill the ball towards Howard who headed towards goal, Hungarian goalkeeper Brzykcy was equal to it.

After a period of pressure from Scotland, the ball broke to Csanyi who unleashed a shot from 20-yards which drifted narrowly over Gibson’s crossbar. Zeller also had an eye for goal on 28 minutes, this time with the attempt on target, but Gibson was alert to the danger and parried away for a corner.

10 minutes from the break, the ball dropped to Cuthbert from a corner-kick, but the midfielder’s shot looped just over the target.

Scotland turned up the intensity just before the break in a bid to break the deadlock. Another promising Thomas and Weir link-up excited the fans on 40 mins, but the Real Madrid midfielder couldn’t correct her feet in time to get the connection right. Weir made no mistakes a few minutes later though with a wonderful long-range strike which forced the Hungarian stopper into a full-stretch to deny Scotland the opener.

It was Scotland who had the final attempt of the half, a short-corner from Emslie to Weir was turned over to Cuthbert at the edge of the box who fired a shot at goal which Brzykcy contained at the second time of asking.

Sam Kerr kicked-off the second-half and it was Hungary who enjoyed the early pressure. Their best chance fell to Kajan on 56 minutes who received a cut-back from the by-line but managed to drag her shot wide of an empty net.

It was Scotland who took the lead on the hour mark, Martha Thomas continued her goal-scoring form as she blasted a shot into the roof of the net from close-range to give the visitors the advantage.

Pedro Martinez Losa’s side continued to push for a second goal but were unable to carve out any clear-cut opportunities. Kerr found herself unmarked in the box on 77 minutes but couldn’t get her shot on target.

As the game entered the final stages, both sides battled for the next goal, but Scotland remained resolute in defence to seal the victory and a slender advantage heading into the second leg.

Teams

Scotland: Gibson, Docherty, Clark, Howard, Evans (Hay 75’), Cuthbert, Kerr (Rodgers 89’), Weir © (Watson 75’), Hanson (Smith 56’), Emslie, Thomas (Davidson 89’)

Unused subs: Fife, Cumings, Mukandi, Hill, McGregor, McLauchlan, Napier

Hungary: Brzykcy, Fenyvesi, Kajan, Szabo, Csiki, Csanyi, Nemeth, Kovacs, Zeller, Turanyi, Papp