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A clinical Hungarian performance secured three points for the hosts with a 3-0 win in the opening UEFA U17 EURO finals group match, despite Cymru dominating parts of the match.
Hungary 3-0 Cymru Simon 43', Szabo 75', Umathum 81'.
Manager Craig Knight selected a similar side that sealed qualification against Montenegro in March, with some squad changes forced due to injuries and one match suspensions for Luey Giles and Cody Twose from the Elite Round.
The fixture marks the first time a Cymru men’s age group side has reached a UEFA finals since 1981 and Knight’s side started positively, forcing the majority of play to take place in the Hungarian half. The pressure resulted in Cymru’s coming narrowly close to scoring in the opening twenty minutes as Joe Hatch’s glancing header narrowly missed the far post from Troy Perrett’s cross in a well worked move.
Cymru’s patient build up play continued, and another chance soon beckoned with striker Iwan Morgan hitting the near post, finding himself one on one after a through ball from Josh Beecher on the left-hand side.
Despite the momentum, it was Hungary that took the lead moments before half time through Benedek Simon as the striker muscled through the box and found the bottom corner with an outstretched shot.
Starting the second half in the lead, the Hungarians tightened up at the back, offering little space for Cymru to infiltrate and create chances. However, Knight’s side continued to look for opportunities through Gabriele Bianchieri and half-time substitute Freddie Issaka out wide.
With fifteen minutes remaining, the hosts doubled their lead through substitute Szilard Szabo. A shot from distance by Csaba Molnar was parried away by Kit Margetson but the follow up by Szabo resulted with the ball in the back of the net.
The three points were all but secured five minutes later as defender Adam Umathum headed home from an Hungarian corner. Despite the difficult second half, Cymru continued to show resilience with Issaka forcing a close range save for Aaron Yaakobisvili in the closing stages.
Knight’s side will continue the campaign on Saturday 20 May against the Republic of Ireland at the Puskás Akadémia Pancho Aréna in Felcsut. The match kicks off at 15:30 BST and will be shown live on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer.
Another 3-0 defeat is somewhat hard to understand against RoI who themselves were battered earlier.
It mirrors the senior side. Sadly for Wales they thought the job was done . Simply qualifying and celebrating was enough. Not the mentality we require.
It looks like they stopped doing what ever it was they were doing before.
Wise sage since Toshack era
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Wales U17 at the Euros on 19:05 - May 20 with 2583 views
An impressive Republic of Ireland performance resulted in a 3-0 defeat for Cymru in their second UEFA U17 EURO finals match in Felcsút, Hungary.
Republic of Ireland 3-0 Cymru Razi 23', Orazi 34', Akachukwu 62'
Craig Knight made six changes to the side that lost to Hungary in the opening match, including Luey Giles and Cody Twose who returned from suspension. Cymru made a bright start to the match and came narrowly close to scoring in the first minute. A superb curling effort by striker Iwan Morgan from outside the box was tipped onto the post by Jason Healy to prevent the early lead. With twenty minutes played, the Republic of Ireland were awarded a penalty after Ike Orazi was taken down in the box. Following a save by Luke Armstrong, the referee awarded the Irish a retake for leaving the line early, and Naj Razi broke the deadlock with the follow up despite a second penalty save by Armstrong. Ten minutes later Orazi doubled Ireland’s lead, finding the top corner from an effort just inside the box to give his side a two-goal lead at half time. Despite increased pressure from Cymru in the second half and changes in attack and midfield, it was Ireland that extended their lead on the hour mark with a superb long range effort from Romeo Akachukwu to all but confirm the three points. Cymru’s final group match will take place on Tuesday 23 May against Poland at the BSC Stadium in Budapest. The match kicks off at 19:00 BST and will be shown live on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer.
Wales U17 at the Euros on 17:35 - May 20 by ReslovenSwan1
Another 3-0 defeat is somewhat hard to understand against RoI who themselves were battered earlier.
It mirrors the senior side. Sadly for Wales they thought the job was done . Simply qualifying and celebrating was enough. Not the mentality we require.
It looks like they stopped doing what ever it was they were doing before.
The Republic are picking players as they always have with tenuous links, Wales just don’t do that.
A great believer in taking anything you like to wherever you want to.
Wales U17 at the Euros on 21:23 - May 23 by jackatbarry
He could be a beast in a few years if he keeps up the progress
Why not involve him in senior games next season? A few squad appearances and the occasional 10 -15 minutes. He's older than Robbie James, Joe Allen, Shaun Mac when they played his first games for us.
Wales Under-17s finished off their Uefa European Championship debut on a high with a dominant 3-0 victory over group winners Poland, but it wasn't enough to avoid a group stage exit.
A Gabriele Biancheri header and a brace inside two minutes for Swansea City's Iwan Morgan claimed Wales' first win at European that level at a major tournament.
Jacob Cook - who won Swansea City's February Goal of the Month with a stunning goal from inside his own half against Peterborough United Under-16s - was the only Swan in the starting XI. Kit Margetson, Sam Parker and Iwan Morgan were named on the bench.
Biancheri opened the scoring with 10 minutes to go, and Wales doubled their lead in the closing stages on the counter-attack with Morgan - who ended the season as Swansea City Under-18s' top scorer with 28 goals - making no mistake in finding the bottom corner after dribbling thirty five yards with the ball.
The lead was further increased in stoppage time as Morgan bagged a second in the 91st minute, this time finding the top corner with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box.
Swans keeper and midfielder Kit Margetson and Sam Parker were unused substitutes.
The final fixture concluded Wales' campaign in the 2023 Uefa U17 European finals tournament, the first time a Welsh men’s age group has qualified for a major tournament for over 40 years.
Everyone at Swansea City congratulates the Swans quad for being part of a historic squad and tournament.
A great believer in taking anything you like to wherever you want to.
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