Maturing Hungary show mettle

A Hungary team containing several players who took part in the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Championship showed their ability to step up to U19 level as they dominated qualifying round Group 2 on home soil to go through to the Elite round with Switzerland.

Hungary ahead
The first game in Tatabanya seemed to be heading Switzerland's way after Mario Gavranovic gave them a 1-0 lead against Wales early in the second half but substitute Ian Jones equalised three minutes from time. Hungary had no such problems as they defeated Kazakhstan 6-0 in Szekesfehervar. Botond Birtalan, one of only three starters not to have played in the 2006 U17 finals, scored on 22 and 24 minutes, Ádám Dudás made it 3-0 at half-time and Olivér Nagy, Attila Busai and Márk Nikházi added further goals late on.

Hosts through
On Matchday 2, Switzerland hit form as they overcame Kazakhstan 6-1 in Tatabanya. Pascal Schürpf scored at the start and end of the first half, either side of a Daniel Unal strike, and Gavranovic made it 4-0 on 53 minutes. Vyacheslav Serdyukov pulled one back but Gavranovic and Unal added further goals. Over in Szekesfehervar, Hungary sealed an Elite round place with a 3-1 win against Wales as, although Busai's early effort was cancelled out on half-time by James Partington, substitute Krisztián Németh scored on 63 and 76 minutes.

Switzerland survive
Wales now needed to win against Kazakhstan to have a hope of pipping Switzerland to second place, but instead fell to a 2-1 defeat. That was a relief to Switzerland, who themselves lost 2-1 to Hungary. Fabian Frei gave Switzerland a seventh-minute lead but Dániel Lengyel equalised just before the hour and Vladimir Komán won the game with five minutes left.