Following a 1-0 defeat to Serbia last Friday, the Boreal Owls were keen to get off the mark in Group B3 at the Hidegkuti Nandor Stadion, and they were given the perfect opportunity to do so after just seven minutes.
Adelina Engman’s determined run in from the left wing was halted by a clumsy foul by Luca Papp inside the area, giving the referee no choice but to point to the penalty spot.
Eva Nystrom made no mistake from the spot, beating Lauren Brzykcy with an effort sent straight down the middle.
Brzykcy fared better with an Oona Siren effort from the edge of the area midway through the half – the only other shot on target Finland managed in the first 45 minutes despite pinning Serbia into their own half for much of it.
The second half failed to ignite until Anni Hartikainen came on in place of Engman just before the hour mark.
Within seconds, she connected beautifully with Joanna Tynnila’s lofted ball into the box, sending a spectacular volley towards goal, which Brzykcy did well to tip over the bar.
However, that heralded in Hungary’s best spell of the game, yet a header over the bar from Beatrix Fordos following a corner was the closest they came to an equaliser.
Finnish hearts were in mouths when – having scored a penalty after seven minutes – Nystrom came close to conceding one with seven minutes left, after a forceful challenge on Emoke Papai.
Despite strong claims from the home side, the referee adjudged the visiting defender to have made a fair tackle.
No further drama meant the early goal was enough for Finland to secure a fourth victory and fifth clean sheet in their last six outings.
The three points take Marko Saloranta’s side level with Hungary on three points, but trailing on goal difference owing to the Hungarian’s 2-0 win over Belarus on Matchday 1.
Serbia’s match with Belarus finished goalless, taking the Balkan side top of the group at least until the action resumes in April.
