Saéz sees Spanish success

Spain made full use of home advantage to secure first place in Group 1 and progress to the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals.

Penalties possibility
Dead level at the start of play, Spain and Hungary knew a draw today would bring the extraordinary prospect of a penalty shoot-out to decide a group, indeed Lithuania's simultaneous defeat by the Netherlands meant that a level game here would indeed have meant spot-kicks would have to be used.

Spain survive
However Spain, the first nation to win the U19 tournament after the switch from U18 in 2001/02, found their scoring form in Onda and will now progress to Switzerland in July hoping to go one better than their U17 equivalents, who this month finished second in their European Championship in France.

First-half goals
Hungary were holding on well in the first period, but just after the half-hour came the Spanish breakthrough when David Silva shot in. Five minutes later Spain were in reach of the finals when Victor Casadesus Castaño doubled the lead. Roland Dancs, who scored Hungary's only goal of the mini-tournament against the Netherlands, was then dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Victory confirmed
Joan Tomas Campasol made it 3-0 midway through the second half, and, in front of national coach Iñaki Saéz, Spain eased to victory. Spain join hosts Switzerland, holders Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Belgium and one of Austria, Finland, Poland and Scotland - whose Group 6 mini-tournament begins tomorrow - in the finals.