Portugal make U19 finals after thriller

Portugal are back in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals after a two-year absence thanks to a comeback win against Hungary that gave them elite round Group 2 first place on goals scored.

With Portugal level on points with Greece and one ahead of mini-tournament hosts Hungary at kick-off, both opponents here had a chance of qualifying. Nélson Oliveira clinched victory for Portugal just before the hour and although Greece defeated Romania 2-0 in the other game, Ilídio Vale's side were through.

Krisztián Simon twice made Tiago Maia save just past the quarter-hour but Portugal took the lead when Agra was sent clear down the right and hit a low shot past Ádám Kovácsik. Within six minutes Hungary were level, Kornél Kulcsár was fouled by Cédric and got up to curl in a free-kick from 20 metres via the post.

Hungary moved in front in the 32nd minute as Máté Skriba converted a penalty having himself been felled by Nuno Reis. But two minutes before half-time Nélson Oliveira broke through the middle and although his drive was acrobatically parried by Kovácsik, Agra crossed for Alex to head in.

Greece were level with Romania at the break but Portugal nevertheless knew a point might not be enough and they dominated the second half. Nine minutes after the interval Csaba Preklet cleared a Ruben Pinto shot off the line but Nélson Oliveira was to claim the winner soon after with a looping header from Agra's hanging cross following a mazy run and deft one-two on the left with Sana. Ruben Pinto hit the post and was denied in injury time by Kovacsik but Portugal had done just enough to earn a ticket to France from 18 to 30 July, with the draw on 4 June in Caen.