Romania and Iceland finish goalless

Iceland and Romania shared the points in their opening UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round Group 7 game in Hungary.

A tight first half was followed by a more open second period but neither side managed a breakthrough. Group hosts Hungary are next up for Iceland on Friday, when Romania take on Russia.

It was very physical before the break with few chances; the best opportunity fell to Iceland's Árni Vilhjálmsson, who had a shot cleared off the line by Ioan Neag after rounding goalkeeper Constantin Brănescu on 25 minutes. Romania's Claudiu Bumba nearly gave his team the lead just before half-time but his powerful drive was well parried by Bergsteinn Magnússon.

Romania upped the ante after the break but despite sustained pressure could not find a way through the resolute Iceland defence. Darius Buia had a header cleared off the line, before Andrei Vaştag saw his powerful headed effort tipped onto the bar by Magnússon.

Iceland could have stolen it as play became stretched late on, Óli Pétur Fridthjófsson, Aron Jóhannsson and Oliver Sigurjónsson all having efforts saved by Brănescu, but their coach Gunnar Gudmundsson was satisfied with the point: "I think we had a very even first half where we had perhaps the best chance.

"In the second, Romania were pressing us a lot and we were lucky at times," he continued. "In the last few minutes we had some chances of our own to win the match. Overall 0-0 was a fair result."