Hungary W vs France W

A tight first period ended goalless, with both defences standing firm. The deadlock broke in the 30th minute of the second period when Hungary struck first to make it 1-0 and put the French under immediate pressure.

France responded within the same minute. Manon Le Scodan poked home from close range after being set up by Julia Mesplède (30'), levelling the score at 1-1 almost immediately after Hungary's opener.

The decisive moment arrived in the 54th minute of the third period. Rozier collected the puck and fired a precise shot into the top corner — described by L'Équipe as "chirurgical" — to give France a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

Period scores: 0-0, 1-1, 0-1 (to France).

Hungary's failure to capitalise on their lead proved costly. They had gained the upper hand midway through the second period, only for France to draw level within seconds — a psychological blow that shifted momentum. Rozier's clinical finish early in the third period sealed the turnaround, and Hungary could not find an equaliser despite pushing forward in the closing stages.

• Clara Rozier (France W) — Scored the winning goal with a stunning finish in the 54th minute. Her composure under pressure decided the contest.
• Manon Le Scodan (France W) — Timely equaliser moments after Hungary took the lead; her rapid response kept France in the game.
• Julia Mesplède (France W) — Provided the assist on Le Scodan's equaliser, reading the play smartly in the attacking zone.

The period-by-period breakdown (0-0, 1-1, 0-1) tells the story of a game that was closely contested for 50 minutes before France's quality in the decisive moments prevailed. Neither side dominated by a wide margin — Hungary's goal came first, but the quick reply and Rozier's winner reflected France's superior finishing efficiency.

The H2H record now sits at Hungary 13 wins to France's 11 from 24 meetings, with this result narrowing the gap. The fixture historically produces goals (78% of meetings have seen Over 2.5 goals), though this match stayed below that threshold — underlining the defensive discipline on display.

France bounced back from their opening 3-2 loss to hosts Germany on 20 August. Hungary, meanwhile, had opened their tournament with a statement 8-0 win over Norway a day earlier. The European Cup of Nations is a round-robin group stage — Group A also includes Germany and Norway — with the top teams advancing to a final round.

France next face Norway on Saturday 22 August. Hungary close their group campaign against Germany on the same day.

A tight, competitive contest befitting the inaugural European Cup of Nations. France showed resilience after going behind and possessed the individual quality in Rozier to decide a close match. Hungary will rue conceding so quickly after taking the lead, but this was a positive performance against a side that competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics.