Sweden and Belgium hold their nerve
Sunday, October 9, 2005
Article summary
Sweden and Belgium won through from Group 5 but a final-day victory that was just short of taking them through could salvage Hungary's campaign.
Article body
Sweden and Belgium won through from UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying round Group 5, but a final-day victory that was one goal shy of taking them through automatically could yet salvage Hungary's campaign.
Free-scoring Belgium
Belgium began the Swedish-staged group in style, defeating the Faroe Islands 7-1 in Lomma. Timothy Derijck, Kevin Mirallas and Thomas Weydisch scored before the break, and Jorn Vermeulen added another in the 57th minute. Levi Hanssen swiftly pulled one back, but Weydisch and Derijck struck again before an Einar Hansen own goal.
Swedish win
In Lund, Sweden came from behind to overcome Hungary 3-1. Daniel Volgyi's 16th-minute penalty gave the Hungarians the half-time lead, but Imad Khalili equalised from the spot in the 56th minute. Daniel Sliper made it 2-1 on the hour mark and Daniel Larsson completed the scoring 14 minutes from time.
Kabeya clincher
Hungary bounced back two days later in Horby with a 3-0 win against the Faroese. Laszlo Bartha's 33rd-minute opener was added to late on by Adam Szalai and substitute Tibor Heffler. Belgium then took a three-point lead in the pool as they defeated Sweden 1-0 in Limhamn, Christian Kabeya scoring the only goal in the 26th minute.
Hosts through
Sweden knew, however, that a win against the Faroes would guarantee progress to the Elite round draw. Sebastian Castro-Tello took only six minutes to give the hosts the lead in Eslov, and Sliper's 18th-minute effort doubled the advantage, to which he added a penalty on 35 minutes. Andres Vasques struck the fourth early in the second half, and that cushion proved sufficient despite Christian Mouritsen's added-time consolation.
Hungary must wait
Due to this result, Hungary needed a two-goal win against Belgium in Staffanstorp to pip their opponents to a top-two finish. Adám Hrepka scored for Hungary with 15 minutes to go, but that proved the only goal and the result from Eslov then came through, meaning in the three-way head-to-head, Sweden were top and Belgium were second. However, that victory means Hungary are currently in position to go through as the best third-placed team from across the 12 groups, though six of the pools are yet to start.