Wales fall to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Hungary in their U17 Euros opener
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - 17 MAY 2023:Wales' Iwan Morgan during the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Group A fixture between Hungary & Wales at the Hidegkuti Nandor Stadium, Budapest, Hungry. (Pic by John Smith/FAW)
Wales began their 2023 U17 Euros campaign with a 3-0 defeat to the host nation Hungary inside an intimidating Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion.
Iwan Morgan hit the post midway through the first half before Benedek Simon gave Hungary the lead on the brink of half time.
Having controlled long portions of the first half, Wales found themselves under pressure after the break and Hungary added further goals through Szilárd Szabó and Adam Umathum.
Wales made three changes from the team that sealed qualification with a 2-2 draw against Montenegro back in March – Luey Giles, Dan Cox and Freddie Issaka being replaced by Brayden Clarke, Joshua Beecher and Joseph Hatch.
Craig Knight’s side started the game strongly, winning a succession of corners in the early stages, but it took until the 19th minute for them to have their first real chance on goal.
Troy Perrett escaped into space down the right wing and crossed for Joe Hatch, who could only get a slight touch on the ball and directed his header wide of the target.
That chance was a warning shot for the hosts, who were buoyed on by a vocal black-clad section of their supporters, and they soon began causing problems for the Welsh back line.
Joe Andrews cleared a scramble in the box before Dylan Lawlor was called upon to prevent Simon, who played a great one-two with Zétény Varga, a sure sight of goal.
With half an hour on the clock, Iwan Morgan was denied Cymru’s best chance of the half. Having been released down the left by Beecher the Swansea City forward cut in on his right foot and fired a low shot, which came crashing back off the post.
Beecher was creating chances once again seven minutes later when his deep cross from the left found Hatch arriving at the back post, yet the Plymouth youngster could only direct his header off target.
That was Wales’ final chance of the half, as the hosts continually probed for an opener as the first half came to a close. Simon found himself free in behind the Cymru defence, but Margetson stood his ground well as the 17-year-old forward attempted to go around him to no avail.
Simon made no mistake minutes later, having received the ball from Ádám Bagi he held off the challenge from Clarke and span towards goal before firing a shot past Kit Margeston to give Hungary the lead with two minutes left of the first half.
Knight introduced Freddie Issaka in place of his Plymouth teammate Hatch at half-time as Cymru went in search of an equaliser.
Despite the change, it was Attila Belvon’s side who threatened to add to the score. Simon was involved once again, he beat Margeston in a race to the ball before prodding a shot below the Welsh keeper which rolled inches past the post.
The chances kept coming for Hungary and they did eventually double their lead on 75 minutes. Having denied Csaba Milán Molnár’s initial shot, Margetson was helpless to deny the rebound which fell kindly into the path of Szabó, who dually slotted the ball into the vacant net.
Things got worse for Wales six minutes later when Umathum rose highest at the near post to flick Molnár’s corner past the onrushing Wales goalkeeper, sending the boisterous home crowd into delirium.
Having not been called into action for a long period of time, Aaron Yaakobisvili rushed off his line quickly to deny Issaka and Cymru a way back into the game with a point-blank save with five minutes left of the game.
