Brave Hungary denied famous win by Dutch

As expected, Rossi opted for a familiar 3-4-3 formation but there were a number of changes from last month's opening two Nations League fixtures, a defeat in Germany and a goalless draw at home to Bosnia, goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz coming in for the rested Peter Gulácsi behind a back three from left to right of Márton Dárdai, Willi Orbán and Attila Fiola. Recent debutant Tamás Nikitscher made his first start by partnering András Schäfer in central midfield either side of Zsolt Nagy on the left wing and Bendegúz Bolla on the right, this midfield four lining up behind central striker Barnabás Varga who was in turn flanked by captain Dominik Szoboszlai in the left channel and Roland Sallai on the right.

The Netherlands dominated the early possession but the hosts went closest to opening the scoring, Sallai diverting Szoboszlai's right-wing corner on to the far-left post from just inside the penalty area in the 16th minute. The Dutch continued to see more of the ball, up to 84% of it at one point, and Dibusz had to be alert to deny Reijnders as the visitors sought to make their dominance count.

Exactly the opposite scenario came to pass though when, in the 32nd minute, Sallai sensationally seized the lead for the hosts, volleying in Nagy's left-wing cross at the near post to score his 14th goal in 55 international appearances. Dibusz's save from Cory Gakpo meant that lead was preserved for the rest of the half and deep into the second period too, despite Dárdai's injury meaning a half-time change for the incoming Endre Botka.

Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij could have equalised just before the hour mark, only for his downward header to fly wide of the left post from the edge of the five-metre line. Soon after, Rossi brought on fresh legs when first Kevin Csoboth replaced goalscorer Sallai, then Ádám Nagy came on for Varga, but surely the biggest boost of all came in the 80th minute when Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk was red-carded for a second bookable offence in the space of three minutes.

The Netherlands aren't ranked so highly by FIFA for no reason though and when seemingly at their most vulnerable, they dug deep to find an equaliser, Gakpo's 83rd-minute, right-wing free-kick headed into the right corner of the Hungary net by Denzel Dumfries, despite the best efforts of a diving Dibusz.

Substitute Dániel Gera became the 40th debutant of the Rossi era when he replaced Bolla in the third minute of added time while there was still one more opportunity For Hungary to scent victory, but Szoboszlai sent his 95th-minute free-kick over the crossbar. Nevertheless, a second Nations League point earned at home this year is more than many had expected from this game and provides Rossi's charges with significant momentum as they seek to garner more points from their next fixture away at Bosnia-Hercegovina in three days' time.

Hungary 1–1 Netherlands (HT: 1–0)
Hungary: Dibusz – Fiola, Orbán, Dárdai M. (Botka, 46) – Bolla (Gera, 90), Nikitscher, Schäfer, Nagy Zs. – Szoboszlai, Sallai (Csoboth, 65) – Varga B. (Nagy Á., 79).
Netherlands: Verbruggen – Dumfries, Van Dijk, De Vrij (Malen, 77), Van de Ven – Gravenberch, Reijnders, Q. Timber (G. Til, 77) – Gakpo (Hato, 90), Zirkzee (Brobbey, 77), Simons (De Ligt, 81).
Goalscorers: HUN: Sallai (32), NED: Dumfries (83)
Red card: Van Dijk (80)