Vellios earns Greece opening victory

Group 2 hosts Hungary opened their UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round campaign with a 1-0 defeat by Greece in a game which included a sending-off for each side.

Adam Baljti was the first to be given his marching orders 26 minutes into a fractious opening period. Greece failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and subsequently found themselves a player short when Nikolaos Karelis was dismissed 16 minutes from time. It mattered not, however, because Apostolos Vellios struck the winner in the 83rd minute, leaving Greece second in the section behind Portugal, who beat Romania 3-1.

Neither team had offered any credible threat throughout the first half, Balajti's red card for a high tackle proving to be the most notable moment. Petros Mantalos was the first to draw a significant save from either goalkeeper, Ádám Kovácsik denying him smartly, but it was the hosts who were in control of midfield. Karelis's dismissal evened up the numbers but Greece nonetheless finally discovered a cutting edge through Vellios.