Hungary 0-2 Scotland: Visitors begin World Cup bid with convincing win

Scotland controlled large parts of proceedings but had to settle for a two-goal margin

Scotland ushered in the Pedro Martinez Losa era with a deserved victory over Hungary in Budapest to open their Women's World Cup qualifying campaign.

While Klaudia Kovacs struck her own bar, the hosts grew in confidence as the game progressed.

However, substitute Martha Thomas settled the nerves with a glancing header with 17 minutes to play.

Scotland now face the Faroe Islands, who were humiliated by Spain in a 10-0 drubbing in their opener, at Hampden on Tuesday.

The top nine group winners advance to the finals in Australia and New Zealand, with the runners-up going into a play-off.

• Reaction and as it happened

Captain Rachel Corsie was clear in her message prior to the new dawn for the Scotland national team. Nothing but six points from the first two games would do.

Given group rivals Spain have not lost a qualifier since 2012, it's understandable.

Martinez Losa's bid for a dream start to his Scotland tenure was not helped in the build-up with a raft of call offs. Stalwart Kim Little announced her retirement, while Caroline Weir, one of the side's leading threats, was among a glut of injury withdrawals.

Despite all that, Scotland were spirited during a swaggering start at the Hidegkuti Nandor Stadion.

A controlled performance was soon rewarded with the opportunity to take the lead from the spot. A dinked Jane Ross ball sent Cuthbert scampering through on goal, only for the Chelsea forward to be brought down by Lilla Turanyi.

Cuthbert took the spot kick herself, but an unconvincing effort was saved low to her right by Reka Szocs. The Scot reacted quickly, though, steering in the rebound for a deserved lead.

Apart from a floating long-range effort from Lilla Sipos that was parried away by Lee Alexander, there was little attacking intent from Hungary, who grew in belief after the break as the nervous visitors retreated.

With only a dragged Ross shot to shout about after the break, Martinez Losa made changes, and the substitutes made a huge impact.

Lana Clelland should have done better with three efforts - the first lobbed over the bar and the other two straight at Szocs - but fellow substitute Thomas put the game to bed with a glancing header from a deep corner.

Claire Emslie somehow missed a glorious chance at the back post for a third with the goal gaping while Thomas was also denied a deserved second, but thankfully for the Scots it did not matter.

Player of the match - Erin Cuthbert

Erin Cuthbert was fortunate to open the scoring, but her quality was clear to see throughout with great movement and vision for the Scots

What did we learn?

This was never going to be the time to judge Martinez Losa. In his first match in charge, there was little preparation time for the Spaniard to get his message across. Add in all the call offs, this was always about result rather than performance.

Having said that, Scotland could have made life easier for themselves in Budapest. The team in dark blue had far more quality, but allowed their hosts to grow in confidence in the second half.

A lack of cutting edge was Scotland's downfall in a disappointing Euros campaign. With the Faroes conceding 10 in their opener against Spain, Martinez Losa's side will be expected to find their range quickly.

Given the impact of both Clelland and Thomas, the Scotland boss has a decision to make as to who is charged with leading the line at the national stadium.

What's next?

Scotland play their first match at Hampden since facing Jamaica prior to the 2019 World Cup when they host the Faroes on Tuesday (19:35 BST)

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