Women's World Cup Qualifying - Group B
HungaryHungary0ScotlandScotland2

Hungary 0-2 Scotland: Visitors begin World Cup bid with convincing win

By Scott MullenBBC Sport Scotland
Highlights of Scotland's 2-0 victory in Hungary to open their Women's World Cup qualifying

Scotland ushered in the Pedro Martinez Losa era with a deserved victory over Hungary in Budapest to open their Women's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Erin Cuthbert began the scoring for the dominant Scots, turning in a rebound to her own saved penalty.

While Klaudia Kovacs struck her own bar, the hosts grew in confidence as the game progressed.

However, substitute Martha Thomas settled the nerves with a glancing header with 17 minutes to play.

Scotland now face the Faroe Islands, who were humiliated by Spain in a 10-0 drubbing in their opener, at Hampden on Tuesday.

The top nine group winners advance to the finals in Australia and New Zealand, with the runners-up going into a play-off.

Captain Rachel Corsie was clear in her message prior to the new dawn for the Scotland national team. Nothing but six points from the first two games would do.

Given group rivals Spain have not lost a qualifier since 2012, it's understandable.

Martinez Losa's bid for a dream start to his Scotland tenure was not helped in the build-up with a raft of call offs. Stalwart Kim Little announced her retirement, while Caroline Weir, one of the side's leading threats, was among a glut of injury withdrawals.

Despite all that, Scotland were spirited during a swaggering start at the Hidegkuti Nandor Stadion.

A controlled performance was soon rewarded with the opportunity to take the lead from the spot. A dinked Jane Ross ball sent Cuthbert scampering through on goal, only for the Chelsea forward to be brought down by Lilla Turanyi.

Cuthbert took the spot kick herself, but an unconvincing effort was saved low to her right by Reka Szocs. The Scot reacted quickly, though, steering in the rebound for a deserved lead.

Apart from a floating long-range effort from Lilla Sipos that was parried away by Lee Alexander, there was little attacking intent from Hungary, who grew in belief after the break as the nervous visitors retreated.

With only a dragged Ross shot to shout about after the break, Martinez Losa made changes, and the substitutes made a huge impact.

Lana Clelland should have done better with three efforts - the first lobbed over the bar and the other two straight at Szocs - but fellow substitute Thomas put the game to bed with a glancing header from a deep corner.

Claire Emslie somehow missed a glorious chance at the back post for a third with the goal gaping while Thomas was also denied a deserved second, but thankfully for the Scots it did not matter.

Player of the match - Erin Cuthbert

Erin Cuthbert
Erin Cuthbert was fortunate to open the scoring, but her quality was clear to see throughout with great movement and vision for the Scots

What did we learn?

This was never going to be the time to judge Martinez Losa. In his first match in charge, there was little preparation time for the Spaniard to get his message across. Add in all the call offs, this was always about result rather than performance.

Having said that, Scotland could have made life easier for themselves in Budapest. The team in dark blue had far more quality, but allowed their hosts to grow in confidence in the second half.

A lack of cutting edge was Scotland's downfall in a disappointing Euros campaign. With the Faroes conceding 10 in their opener against Spain, Martinez Losa's side will be expected to find their range quickly.

Given the impact of both Clelland and Thomas, the Scotland boss has a decision to make as to who is charged with leading the line at the national stadium.

What's next?

Scotland play their first match at Hampden since facing Jamaica prior to the 2019 World Cup when they host the Faroes on Tuesday (19:35 BST)

Line-ups

Hungary

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Szocs
  • 18Kovács
  • 20TurányiBooked at 17mins
  • 8Szabó
  • 5CsikiSubstituted forNémethat 51'minutes
  • 11NagySubstituted forKocsánat 75'minutes
  • 3Csiszár
  • 10Vágó
  • 19ZellerSubstituted forOláhat 75'minutes
  • 15VachterSubstituted forCsányiat 59'minutes
  • 7Sipos

Substitutes

  • 2Csigi
  • 4Pusztai
  • 6Boros
  • 9Oláh
  • 12Bíró
  • 13Czellér
  • 14Németh
  • 16Csányi
  • 17Kocsán
  • 21Szakonyi
  • 22Eros
  • 23Nagy

Scotland

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Alexander
  • 2McLauchlanBooked at 65mins
  • 4Corsie
  • 5Beattie
  • 3Docherty
  • 9GrimshawSubstituted forBoyleat 77'minutes
  • 6RobertsonSubstituted forArthurat 90'minutes
  • 17HansonSubstituted forClellandat 63'minutes
  • 22Cuthbert
  • 18EmslieSubstituted forDavidsonat 90'minutes
  • 13RossSubstituted forThomasat 63'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Kerr
  • 8Boyle
  • 10Thomas
  • 11Clark
  • 12Fife
  • 14Arthur
  • 15Howard
  • 16Westrup
  • 19Clelland
  • 20Davidson
  • 21Cumings
  • 23Arnot
Referee:
Frida Klarlund
Attendance:
560

Match Stats

Home TeamHungaryAway TeamScotland
Possession
Home32%
Away68%
Shots
Home6
Away18
Shots on Target
Home1
Away9
Corners
Home1
Away6
Fouls
Home9
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Hungary Women 0, Scotland 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Hungary Women 0, Scotland 2.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Loretta Németh (Hungary Women) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Lilla Sipos.

  4. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Erin Cuthbert (Scotland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  5. Post update

    Attempt saved. Martha Thomas (Scotland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Rachael Boyle.

  6. Post update

    Attempt saved. Lana Clelland (Scotland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner.

  7. Post update

    Offside, Scotland. Lauren Davidson tries a through ball, but Nicola Docherty is caught offside.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Scotland. Lauren Davidson replaces Claire Emslie.

  9. Substitution

    Substitution, Scotland. Chloe Arthur replaces Lisa Robertson.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Claire Emslie (Scotland) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Martha Thomas.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Erin Cuthbert (Scotland).

  12. Post update

    Adrienn Oláh (Hungary Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  13. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Lilla Sipos (Hungary Women) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Petra Kocsán with a cross.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Scotland. Rachael Boyle replaces Christy Grimshaw.

  15. Post update

    Attempt saved. Lana Clelland (Scotland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Martha Thomas with a through ball.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Hungary Women. Petra Kocsán replaces Virág Nagy.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Hungary Women. Adrienn Oláh replaces Dóra Zeller.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Dóra Zeller (Hungary Women) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Fanni Vágó.

  19. Goal!

    Goal! Hungary Women 0, Scotland 2. Martha Thomas (Scotland) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Erin Cuthbert with a cross following a corner.

  20. Post update

    Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Viktória Szabó.

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Scores, Results & Fixtures

Friday 17th September 2021

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Sweden11001013
2Finland00000000
3Georgia00000000
4Republic of Ireland00000000
5Slovakia100101-10

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Spain1100100103
2Scotland11002023
3Ukraine00000000
4Hungary100102-20
5Faroe Islands1001010-100

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Belarus11004133
2Czech Republic10101101
3Netherlands10101101
4Iceland00000000
5Cyprus100114-30

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1England11008083
2Austria11008173
3Northern Ireland11004043
4Luxembourg100104-40
5Latvia100118-70
6North Macedonia100108-80

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Denmark11007073
2Football Union of Russia11002023
3Montenegro11003213
4Bos-Herze100123-10
5Azerbaijan100102-20
6Malta100107-70

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Norway1100100103
2Albania10101101
3Belgium10101101
4Kosovo10101101
5Poland10101101
6Armenia1001010-100

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Switzerland11004133
2Italy11003033
3Romania11002023
4Croatia100102-20
5Lithuania100114-30
6Moldova100103-30

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Portugal10101101
2Turkey10101101
3Bulgaria00000000
4Germany00000000
5Israel00000000
6Serbia00000000

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1France1100100103
2Wales11006063
3Slovenia11004043
4Estonia100104-40
5Kazakhstan100106-60
6Greece1001010-100
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