Germany W vs Hungary W

Having already beaten France 3-2 on 20 August and Norway 4-2 on 21 August, Germany knew a draw would be enough to win the tournament. Hungary, who had thrashed Norway 8-0 before losing 2-1 to France, needed victory.

The stakes produced the tightest contest of the three-match event. Hungary applied physical pressure throughout and tested the German defence more than either France or Norway had across the tournament.

Goalkeeper Lisa Hemmerle was the difference-maker in the second period, making a crucial save shortly before the intermission to deny Hungary what would have been a go-ahead goal. The stop preserved a 0-0 scoreline heading into the third period.

Germany increased the tempo as the prospect of the trophy pushed them forward. With under three minutes remaining in regulation, Lilli Welcke collected the puck from mid-range and fired past the Hungary goalkeeper to make it 1-0. Germany's defence held firm in the final minute, blocking shots and clearing the zone to secure the shutout.

Hemmerle's save just before the second intermission kept the game level. Had Hungary taken the lead at that moment, Germany would have been forced to chase the game against a structured opponent comfortable on the counter. Instead, the 0-0 deadlock allowed Germany to dictate the final frame and turn sustained pressure into Welcke's winner.

Lilli Welcke — Scored the tournament-winning goal, her second of the event after also finding the net against France on opening day. Her finish from mid-range with under three minutes left was clinical under pressure.

Lisa Hemmerle — Earned a well-deserved shutout with several key saves, most notably the stop just before the second period ended. Hemmerle's composure under Hungary's physical pressure was decisive.

Laura Kluge — Named Player of the Match. Kluge's forechecking and ability to shield the puck in the offensive zone helped Germany sustain pressure in the critical final minutes. Her work rate was a key factor in tilting the third period in Germany's favour.

The 1-0 scoreline was the lowest-scoring of Germany's three tournament matches, reflecting Hungary's defensive organisation and physical game plan. Germany had scored three against France and four against Norway, but Hungary's structure limited time and space across all three zones. Hemmerle's clean sheet was Germany's first of the tournament. The single-goal margin also marked the first time in 10 head-to-head meetings that a Germany-Hungary fixture finished under 2.5 total goals.

Germany W finished the European Cup of Nations with a perfect 3-0 record, winning the inaugural Group A title in Füssen. The three-match run provides valuable preparation ahead of the IIHF Women's World Championship in Denmark (6-15 November 2026). Head coach Jeff MacLeod's squad will reconvene for a World Cup preparation camp in late October, including a warm-up match against Japan in Bremerhaven on 31 October.

Hungary W finished the tournament with one win (8-0 vs Norway) and two losses (1-2 vs France, 0-1 vs Germany). They will look to regroup ahead of the World Championship, where they are drawn in Group B alongside Sweden, Japan and Norway.

A gritty, professional performance from Germany against the toughest opponent of the tournament. The 1-0 scoreline undersold the competitiveness of the contest, but Germany's ability to find a late winner when not at their fluent best is a hallmark of tournament-ready teams. Hemmerle's shutout and Welcke's composure made the difference.