The only thing that was easy on the eye about this game was the final score.
Scotland will take a narrow advantage to Easter Road on Tuesday night as they host Hungary in the second leg of their Euro 25 play-off. Should they prevail, they will progress to another two-legged tie next month against the winners of Montegro and Finland.
With the stakes high, there was a nervousness at times to last night’s game in Budapest where Martha Thomas’ goal on the hour mark was the difference between the teams.
Pedro Martinez Losa praised the result and the fact that his side did not conceded but he is now aiming to attract as many supporters to Leith on Tuesday as his side set their sights on making it back to a major tournament.
“It is so important now that when we play at home on Tuesday night that the fans come out to back us,” he said. “The only reference you have when you are away from home is your staff and your players and small pockets of supporters but at home it is totally different. It is a chance to fly and invite every Scotland support to come and to back these players. They are giving everything to be at a major tournament again.
“We are now just three steps away from achieving that and my players will leave everything on the pitch on Tuesday night. Hopefully the fans can come out and help them.”
It could have been more – Scotland scorned two enticing opportunities after they had taken the lead with Sam Kerr failing to hit the target when she was picked put unmarked in the box while Thomas just missed connecting with Claire Emslie’s whipped ball across the six yard box.
It would have to be said, too, though that there were let offs within the game for Scotland. If the balance of the tie encourages Hungary to come and have a go at Scotland on Tuesday, they may well be more fruitful.
Much of the hour that went before the goal was turgid and flat as Scotland toiled for any real creativity.
Indeed, for all that Scotland looked to be in control and dominated possession across the opening period, it was Hungary who arguably carved out the best chances.
Diana Csanyi had right-foot effort that dipped over the bar from just outside the box while Lee Gibson had to look smart to stop an effort from Dora Zeller after she had stepped inside before curling an effort towards goal.
Scotland’s glimpses of goal looked most likely to come from Caroline Weir or Erin Cuthbert. Back in the team for the first time since her ACL, Weir had a half effort that was saved from Lauren Brzycy while Cuthbert took saw a shot from distance held by the goalkeeper.
By and large, though, Scotland were ponderous in possession as they struggled to find a way past Hungary.
There were no changes at the break as Martinez Losa stuck by the same starting XI, with no words of wisdom engineering any real change on the park. Kerr headed an effort wide that wouldn’t have counted in any case as the offside flag was already up while Scotland were sloppy at moments when they did have the ball.
Again, it was Hungary who enjoyed the best of the chances with Zeller missing any exceptional chance after Scotland had been left exposed. It was the catalyst for Martinez Losa to ring the changes with Kirsty Smith replacing Kirsty Hanson as Scotland looked to get a grip of the game.
It was a pivotal moment with Thomas then giving Scotland a crucial lead as she netted her 20th international goal. Hungarian defender Lilla Turanyi had a nightmare as she failed to deal with Nicola Docherty’s looping cross into the box. Her hesitancy allowed Thomas to get away from her with her first touch taking her away from the defender before lashing it from close range into the roof of the net.
“Play-off games present a different mental challenge,” reflected Martinez Losa. “But I felt that the players were calm even in the moments that were difficult for us. “We stuck with the game plan and we were patient. It is so important for us that we kept a clean sheet because that gives us so much confidence. “It was a difficult night for Martha because she did not have an awful lot of space. But that is what all good strikers do – they only need one chance and it is in the back of the net.”
