35 years since Hungary sealed its place at Mexico '86

Mezey had taken over the reins as Hungary's head coach two years earlier, succeeding legendary former national-team defender Kálmán Mészöly, who had overseen the last, ultimately unsuccessful World Cup campaign in Spain, albeit one which included a World Cup record 10-1 win over El Salvador.

Drawn in a tough four-team group with the Netherlands,Austria and Cyprus, Mezey's men were in control of their destiny throughout, thanks to wins in their first four fixtures including a 3-1 home success against Austria and an impressive 2-1 away victory in Amsterdam.

This, coupled with Austria's single-goal victory over the Dutch, meant Hungary could complete qualification to the following year's World Cup with a game to spare if they could somehow defeat their neighbours in Vienna.

The players and staff would be supported in their quest by 82 buses full of Hungarian fans, six thousand tickets having been allocated to travelling spectators from Budapest who were hoping for a first triumph in the Austrian capital since 1976.

Their hopes would be realised too, József Kiprich's first two national-team goals - the first one reminiscent of Ferenc Bene's famous slaloming run and goal against Brazil in the 1966 World Cup - handing Hungary a 2-0 half-time lead, which was extended further by Lajos Détári's sumptuous control and rising shot in the 48th minute.

That goal made it 3-0 and that's how it stayed, Hungary topping their group and reaching Mexico despite a 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands in the 'dead rubber' of a final group game in Budapest a month later.

Match highights: https://youtu.be/uARAJC_68Dw

Austria 0-3 Hungary

Venue: Hanappi Stadion, Vienna
Referee: Jacob Baumann (SUI)
Attendance: 20.000

0-1 21' József Kiprich 
0-2 34' József Kiprich
0-3 48' Lajos Détari

AUSTRIA: Koncilia —Lainer, Weber, Pezzey, De-georgi — Prohaska, Hörmann, Jara, Oberacher — Schachner, Krankl.

HUNGARY: Disztl P. — Sallai, Róth, Garaba, Péter — Kardos, Nagy, Détári — Kiprich, Nyilasi, Esterházy.