Portugal, Hungary among elite

Portugal and Hungary made light work of progressing through UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying round Group 1 before playing out an exciting section decider.

Both teams defeated San Marino and the Faroe Islands in their opening matches to make sure of places in the 29 November elite round draw. Then Portugal clinched first position on goal difference with a 3-3 draw, but only after Hungary had come back from 1-0 and 3-1 down.

Hosts Portugal showed their intent from the off with a 9-1 victory against the Faroe Islands, Betinho getting a hat-trick and six other players scoring for a team many of who played at the 2010 U17 finals. Hungary beat the San Marino 5-0 and then the Faroes 3-1, Márk Szécsi striking once in the first game and crucially twice in the second. That ensured that Portugal's 6-0 defeat of San Marino decided both qualifying spots, Cafú getting a treble this time.

First place remained up for grabs, and Tó-Zé put Portugal in front at half-time against Hungary. Krisztián Adorján equalised from a penalty, but Ricardo Alves made it 2-1 on the hour and six minutes later Betinho converted from the spot for his fifth goal of the mini-tournament, the best of the round so far. Hungary were not finished, however, and András Radó and Bálint Vécsei hit back within eight minutes for a point. The Faroes took third place by beating San Marino 4-0, only their third win in 49 matches in this competition.