SCOTLAND left it very late, with Rachel Corsie scoring the winner a minute from time, but did just enough to maintain their 100 per cent record in Group B at Hampden. Top seeds Spain have the opportunity to go back top against Spain on Tuesday night.
“The players showed excellent character,” head coach Pedro Martinez Losa said. “We will take the positives but I also must give credit to Hungary. They played a very competitive game.”
Martinez Losa made just one change from the side which won 2-0 in Budapest to get World Cup qualifying off to a winning start last month, Manchester City midfielder Caroline Weir returning from injury to replace Manchester United's Kirsty Hanson.
Hungary, who were beaten 7-0 at home by top seeds Spain in the second game of their group double header, made a surprisingly confident start, enjoying the best of the possession until they very nearly lost a goal in the tenth minute. Erin Cuthbert was fouled 30 yards out by Hungarian captain Lilla Sippos and the free kick was only cleared as far as Jen Beattie, whose 20 yard shot produced a very good save from Reka Szoks.
The visitors were struck a big blow two minutes later when the lively Lilla Sipos went down in agony after trying to race past Scotland right back Rachel McLauchlan. The forward was unable to continue after lengthy treatment and was replaced by Emoke Papai.
All of Scotland's attacking threat, such as it was in the opening 25 minutes, was coming down the left and Clare Emslie came close with a shot which was just on the wrong side of the near post. The breakthrough finally arrived four minutes from half time when the Hungarian defence failed to deal with a Nicola Docherty cross and Christy Grimshaw beat the player of the half, Szoks, from close range.
Having set up the goal, Docherty was culpable for Hungary's equaliser ten minutes into the second half. She misplace a pass near the Scotland box and the ball was quickly passed through two Hungarian players for Fanni Vago to beat Lee Alexander with a high shot into the net from ten yards.
Martinez Losa had seen enough and sent on West Ham's Lisa Evans and Everton's Lucy Graham for Grimshaw and Lisa Robertson but chances remained few and far between until Scotland threw the kitchen sink at it in the last 15 minutes.
Erin Cuthbert had a chance to win it but Szoks was again too good. A draw looked inevitable until the Chelsea midfielder sent over a corner and Corsie delivered the knock out blow to an unlucky Hungarian side.
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