Csoboth gives Hungary chance of Euro 2024 progression

Hungary head coach Marco Rossi opted to make two changes to the lineup which lost to Germany last Wednesday, Endre Botka and Callum Styles replacing Attila Szalai and Ádám Nagy respectively. That meant goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi continued behind a three-man rearguard of Márton Dárdai, Willi Orbán and Endre Botka who backed up a four-man midfield of, from right to left, Bendegúz Bolla, Callum Styles, András Schäfer and Milos Kerkez. Hungary's three attackers were once again playmakers Roland Sallai and captain Dominik Szoboszlai behind centre forward Barnabás Varga.

This hotly-anticipated clash between two teams who both needed to take all three points to stand a realistic chance of progressing to the knockout stage was keenly contested in the first half, but low on real quality overall. Bolla tried his luck with a low, 25-metre drive which was dealt with well by Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn and Willi Orbán's close-range header from Szoboszlai's cute free-kick struck the crossbar, albeit it may have been subject to a VAR check for offside if it had gone in the goal.

The second half started in the same pattern, Hungary attacking with more verve and Sallai was unlucky early on to see his shot on the turn deflected into the arms of a grateful Gunn. Scotland had their first shot of the match as late as the 53rd minute courtesy of Che Adams' wild slash over the bar from distance and soon after, John McGinn's penetrative run down the right wing gave the Aston Villa midfielder the chance to pass to Scott McTominay, but an organised Hungary defence did well to snuff out the danger.

Callum Styles had done well on his first Euro 2024 appearance but he was replaced by the fresh legs of Ádám Nagy on the hour mark. Hungary had enjoyed less of the possession overall but had been far more threatening in front of goal and that trend continued when Dárdai headed Bolla's cross narrowly over Gunn's crossbar. Just a few minutes later, another swirling Szoboszlai cross from a free-kick resulted in a collision between Varga and a Scotland player, which eventually saw the Hungarian striker stretchered off after a long delay.

A last-ditch challenge by Orbán denied substitute Stuart Armstrong a sight of goal and otherwise, all the opportunities fell Hungary's way, Sallai, Szoboszlai and Zsolt Nagy all going close to seizing the lead before another substitute, Kevin Csoboth, rattled a Scotland post in added time with a low shot from a tight angle.

Gulácsi made a fabulous save to deny Grant Hanley as the game suddenly came incredibly stretched, but the game's defining moment was still to come. From a Scotland corner, Hungary latched onto the ball and broke at speed, Csoboth spreading the ball wide to Sallai who did tremendously well to cut the ball back to the arriving Csoboth who dispatched the ball low, first-time into the bottom left-corner of the net to spark wild Hungarian celebrations.

2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN GERMANY
GROUP A, MATCHDAY 3
SCOTLAND 0–1 HUNGARY (HT: 0–0)
Stuttgart, Stuttgart Aréna 54 000 spectators. Ref: Facundo Tello (Gabriel Chade, Ezequiel Brailovsky) ARG
SCOTLAND: Gunn – Ralston (McLean, 83), Hendry, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson (Morgan, 89) – McGinn (Amstrong, 76), Gilmour (Christie, 83), McGregor, McTominay – Ché Adams (Shankland, 76). Head coach: Steve Clarke
HUNGARY: Gulácsi – Botka, Orbán, Dárdai (Szalai, 74) – Bolla (Csoboth, 86), Schäfer, Styles (Nagy Ádám, 61), Kerkez (Nagy Zsolt, 86) – Szoboszlai, Varga (Ádám, 74), Sallai. Head coach: Marco Rossi
Goalscorer: Csoboth (90+10)
Yellow cards: Styles (18), Orbán (26), Schäfer (44), McTominay (50), Kleinheisler (75, as a non-playing substitute), Csoboth (90+11)