Russia and Hungary race through

Russia and Hungary became the latest teams to book their berths in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite round, claiming first and second place in qualifying Group 9.

Mixed results
Both teams fell at the Elite round hurdle in 2008/09, and Russia were slowly out of the blocks as Arturs Karasausks gave Latvia a third-minute lead in Tiszaujvaros on Matchday 1, Irakliy Logua earning a point from the penalty spot 18 minutes later. Hosts Hungary had no such problems against Liechtenstein, although they were made to wait until the 58th minute for Maté Skriba's breakthrough. Further goals from Gabor Markus, an Olcay Gür own goal and Krisztian Simon completed a deceptively comfortable win.

Emphatic wins
Gabor Szapor's Hungary made sure of progress in their second round of matches, although they had to recover from Arturs Zjuzins' third-minute opener. Once more Latvia were unable to hold on to a lead, Markus levelling within three minutes before Aleksandrs Baturinskijs was sent off in the 15th minute to tip the balance in Hungary's favour. Markus made it 2-1 in the 18th minute, Patrik Tischler and Donát Laczkovich adding further goals before half-time and Simon rounding off a 5-1 win in the closing seconds. Russia were even more impressive as goals from Alexander Stolyarenko (9), Evgeny Bashkirov (20), Logua (51), Maxim Zhestokov (59), Zaurbek Pliev (76) and Stanislav Matyash (90+3) wrapped up a 6-0 win against Liechtenstein.

Russia impress
Nikolai Savichev's Russia needed a point against Hungary in Nyiregyhaza to make sure of qualification and received a welcome boost when Tibor Nagy put through his own goal 27 minutes in. Logua scored his third goal in as many games eleven minutes after half-time, meaning the hosts had to settle for second place despite András Stieber reducing their deficit in added time. Latvia, meanwhile, ended their campaign with a flourish thanks to two goals each from Visvaldis Ignatans and Zjuzins against Liechtenstein, although they ended with ten men following a 74th-minute red card for Eriks Kokins, who had come on as a substitute only seven minutes earlier.