Russia ruin Hungarian hopes
Hungary u17 0-1 Russia u17
May 3 2006
By Andrew Haigh, Stade John Grun, Mondorf Les Bains.
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Hungary were made to pay for a string of missed
chances as they lost 1-0 to Russia in their opening match in Group A.
The 78th minute header by central defender Sergey Morozov was a major blow to the Hungarians who would have had
high ambitions going into the tournament.
Hungary began the brighter of the two sides having four genuine scoring opportunities in the first 8 minutes. The
first came from a sublime through ball from the right by Adam Dudas which was latched onto by Kristian Nemeth,
only for the prolific striker to shoot wide.
The duo combined again as Nemeth failed to make contact from a Dudas cross with the goal wide open.
Skipper Vladmir Koman then got in on the action a minute later when he ghosted past the Russian defence fire wide
when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Dudas then had his own opportunity to put the Hungarians ahead but his shot struck the bottom of the right post.
Russia then fought back and five minutes later and could easily of had the lead when an Igor Gorbatenko cross was
headed down by Alexander Prudnikov only for the Hungarian's clearance to strike the bar.
After that chance, Hungary began to dominate once more. On 15 minutes Nemeth, who had already being showing off
his party tricks, saw his powerful shot parried by Russia keeper Evgeny Pomazan. The rebound fell to Andras Gal
but his effort was saved again by the impressive Pomazan.
Hungary's Dudas was defiantly in a confident mood and on 18 minutes he unleashed a half-volley from 25-yards but
it failed to trouble the keeper as it flew over the centre of goal.
Both teams cancelled each other out for the next quarter of an hour before Hungary once again produced a scoring
chance.
Dudas, showing real signs of promise, looked determined as he won a 50-50 challenge, played a quick one-two with
Koman and sent a fantastic lofted through ball to Nemeth. The striker went head-to-head with Pomazan, but the Russia
was once again equal to the Hungarian hot-shot's effort, pushing the shot wide of the left post.
The sides went in level at the break with Hungary looking the most likely to break the deadlock.
However, it was Russia who started the second half the better of the two teams. Dimitry Ryzhov's early effort was
tame as he shot straight the keeper.
Hungary's Nemeth, who was a constant threat to the Russians in the first period, went close as he broke down the
right, beating three defenders before his shot was stopped once more by Pomazan.
Nemeth then showed the less spectacular side of his game as he was then booked when the referee judged him to dive
when challenged by the Russian defence.
With chances at both ends drying up, Russia made a change with Evgeny Korotaev replacing the mostly ineffective
Prudnikov up front.
Russia had a chance to take the lead again when Amir Kashiev's central 30 yard free-kick was smartly tipped over
by Hungarian keeper Milan Baliko.
The seemed to be heading for a 0-0 draw but the Russians had other ideas. Gorbatenko's corner fell to Korotaev
at the back post whose direct cross was convert with ease by Morotov.
Then final whistle blew with the Russians celebrating like they had won the tournament leaving the Hungarians and
their lively following dispondant.
Attendence - 320
Teams:
Hungary: Milan Baliko, Attila Busai, Adam Simon (Mark Nikhazi, 75), Andras Gal (Andras Simon, 79), Andras Debreceni,
Vladimir Koman, Adam Dudas (Peter Toth, 60), Kristian Nemeth, Adrian Szekeres, Laszjo Szabo, Daniel Lengyel.
Subs: Peter Gulacsi, Gergo Rasa, Tamas Nagy,
Russia: Evgeny Pomazan, Sergey Morozov, Artem Samsonov, Anton Vlasov, Vadim Gagloev, Semen Fomine, Alexander Prudnikov
(Evgeny Korotaev, 50), Igor Gorbatenko, Dmitry Ryzhov (Alexandr Marenich, 67), Roman Amirkhanov.
Subs: Roman Savenkov, Alexander Sapeta, Denis Shcherbak, Yan Bobrovskiy Pavel Mochalin. |
