Hungary booked their ticket to New Zealand after beating Israel 2-1 in Budapest. The win sees the hosts finish third, with Portugal topping the group ahead of Austria, while Israel end the competition in fourth.
The game’s three goals came within 14 first-half minutes, Dor Hugy’s 36th-minute strike for Israel was sandwiched between Zsolt Kalmar and Norbert Balogh 25th and 39th-minute finishes in what was a frenetic first 45 minutes.
Israel fought valiantly to find a way back in the second-half but the hosts were too strong defensively and celebrated with their supporters at the final whistle, having booked a trip to Oceania next year.
Serbia needed a last-gasp, 90th-minute winner from Stanisa Mandic to edge Bulgaria 1-0. The win put Serbia in second place in Group B behind Germany and one point ahead of Ukraine, while Bulgaria – like Israel – exit the tournament in fourth without a point.
In what was a very tight match-up with good chances for both sides, Mandic was on the receiving end of a desperate long ball with only a few seconds remaining.
The No9 controlled well and was able to slot past Aleksandar Lyubenov and send Serbia into Monday’s semi-finals where they will face Portugal and Germany will take on Austria as the top four sides battle to be named Europe’s top U-19 team.
New Zealand have qualified as hosts of FIFA’s flagship youth competition while Fiji, winners of the OFC U-20 Championship, claimed OFC’s only available qualifying berth in May.
The competition kicks off when New Zealand take the field at North Harbour Stadium in Albany on 30 May, 2015.
New Zealand has qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup on three previous occasions but has yet to advance beyond the group stage.
OFC’s best performance at this event was in 1991 and 1993 when former members Australia claimed back-to-back fourth place finishes, once at host nation.
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