The top level of European women’s football is entirely different from what we are accustomed to domestically – that is the painful conclusion we can draw from our team’s first international cup match. Twenty-time Icelandic champions Breiðablik, who possess vast experience in European competition, determined the course of Wednesday evening’s encounter inside the opening ten minutes, with Úlfa Dís Kreye Úlfarsdóttir scoring in the sixth and ninth minutes.

We managed to regain some composure after the opening quarter of an hour, but the home side’s dominance remained overwhelming. Sunna Rún Sigurðardóttir found the net in the 24th minute, Líf Van Bemmel added another a minute later, and Kristín Dís Árnadóttir also beat Bettina Böröcz before the break. Breiðablik therefore went into half-time with a five-goal advantage, effectively settling the question of qualification in the first half.

The hosts’ pressure did not ease at the beginning of the second period. Sigurðardóttir completed her hat-trick with two further goals before substitute Hrafnhildur Ása Halldórsdóttir made it 8–0 in the 54th minute.

Both teams then made several substitutions, and our side scored its historic goal during the closing stages of the match. Csilla Balázs found the net in the 79th minute, becoming the first FK Csíkszereda player to score in a senior European cup fixture.

Head coach Péter Kollár did not look for excuses after the heavy defeat, but stressed that his players had gained valuable experience by witnessing at first hand the pace and ruthless efficiency of Europe’s leading teams.

“Of course, given the result, it is difficult to explain anything, and I do not want to do so because we were not in the same weight class. Everyone learnt first-hand that our opponents punished every mistake we made. They put us under enormous pressure and played at a tempo that we were not yet able to match, however much we wanted to. Apart from its opening stages, however, the second half brought a good performance from us: we managed to create chances and score a goal. I cannot blame the girls. We cry together and we laugh together. Regardless of the result, they deserve all my praise. I hope they can learn and develop from this experience, because we will need that greatly in the league,” Péter Kollár said.

Our team will begin its journey home immediately after the match. Following the long trip, Péter Kollár’s side will return to domestic action on Sunday, when we host newly promoted Universitatea Craiova at the Municipal Stadium in Miercurea Ciuc from 11 am.

UEFA Women’s Europa Cup, first qualifying round, first leg

Breiðablik 8–1 FK Csíkszereda (5–0)
Kópavogur, Kópavogsvöllur. Weather: cloudy, 12°C. Pitch condition: excellent.
26 August 2026, 5.30 pm local time

Referee: Sofiya Prychyna (Ukraine).
Assistant referees: Oleksandra Vdovina, Maryna Striletska (both Ukraine).
Fourth official: Liudmyla Telbukh (Ukraine).

Goalscorers: Úlfa Dís Kreye Úlfarsdóttir (6, 9), Sunna Rún Sigurðardóttir (24, 47, 52), Líf Van Bemmel (25), Kristín Dís Árnadóttir (42), Hrafnhildur Ása Halldórsdóttir (54); Csilla Balázs (79).

Breiðablik: Herdís Halla Guðbjartsdóttir – Elisa Vidarsdóttir (Thórdis Elva Ágústsdóttir, 69), Elín Helena Karlsdóttir, Kristín Dís Árnadóttir (Hildur Hákonardóttir, 69), Edith Kristín Kristjánsdóttir – Karitas Tómasdóttir, Katelyn Duong, Sunna Rún Sigurðardóttir – Úlfa Dís Kreye Úlfarsdóttir (Hrafnhildur Ása Halldórsdóttir, 46), Líf Van Bemmel (Bryndís Níelsdóttir, 59), Agla María Albertsdóttir (Kristín Vala Stefánsdóttir, 59). Head coach: Ian Jeffs.

FK Csíkszereda: Bettina Böröcz – Noémi Vincze, Tereza Bednárová, Pinja Eklund (Leila Szolomájer, 65), Csilla Balázs – Andria Efstratiou (Aranka Orbán, 53), Anita Antal – Flóra Katona (Annabelle Nombot, 53), Andrea Herczeg (Panna Zán-Fábián, 65), Anna Ezer (Boglárka Fülöp, 65) – Jehona Shala. Head coach: Péter Kollár.

Yellow cards: Flóra Katona (31), Anna Ezer (35), Csilla Balázs (90+1).

R. A.