Hungary earn deserved point in Portugal

Szoboszlai's cross and Attila Szalai’s early header put Hungary in front early on, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to turn the game on its head with two close-range, first-half finishes, but Liverpool playmaker Szoboszlai had the last word, sliding in a late but thoroughly merited equaliser.

Hungary head coach Rossi opted for a familiar and experienced lineup with two changes from Saturday's 2-0 home victory over Armenia, previously suspended duo Barnabás Varga and Roland Sallai returning in place of Dániel Lukács and Alex Tóth. Starting in goal again was Bálint Tóth behind a back four of Loic Nego, Willi Orbán, Attila Szalai and Milos Kerkez, while András Schäfer and Callum Styles provided a central defensive midfield screen with Bendegúz Bolla,  Dominik Szoboszlai and Sallai ahead of them and Varga in his usual lone striker role.

It was a streetwise lineup reeking of reassurance and it came as no surprise when they seized the early initiative, Szoboszlai's left-wing corner missing Orbán and Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa to leave Szalai with a simple header into the home-team net from three metres.

Falling behind certainly sparked the hosts into life and it was Hungary's nemesis over many years, veteran superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who hauled his team level, dispatching Semedo's cross into Hungary's net from close range in the 22nd minute. Worse was to come for the visitors when Portugal captain Ronaldo doubled his tally and edged his team into the lead in first-half added time, ghosting into the penalty area unmarked to crash a right-footed shot past Bálint Tóth from Mendes's left-wing cross.

By this point, Alex Tóth had replaced an illness-stricken Schäfer in central midfield and it seemed as if Portugal might capitalise by easing to a comfortable win in the second half, Hungary's crossbar being struck twice around the hour mark and Báljnt Tóth being called upon to produce crucial saves on multiple occasions.

Rossi's charges hung in admirably though and threatened to score on occasion too, Sallai missing from long range by just a couple of metres with goalkeeper Costa stranded, before Szalai’s downward header bounced up onto the crossbar and out. Either team could have scored next, but happily for Hungary it was they who found a deserved equaliser in the 91st minute, Varga allowing substitute Dániel Lukács's cutback through his legs for the arriving Szoboszlai to slot the ball past Costa from three metres and secure a highly impressive draw for his side.

This point gained in Lisbon moves Hungary into second place on five points, five behind Portugal, who look certain to qualify for the World Cup as group winners. Rossi's team is now a point ahead of Republic of Ireland in third after they beat Armenia 1-0 in Dublin tonight, Armenia now dropping to fourth in the group on three points.

A win for Hungary away in Armenia in November could therefore secure a play-off place courtesy of a second-place finish, but anything less than a win would leave them needing a positive result against Ireland in Budapest in their last group fixture to confirm that crucial runners-up spot.

Portugal 2–2 Hungary (HT: 2–1)

POR: Costa – Semedo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes (Tavares, 78) – Fernandes (Conceicao, 62), Neves (Palhinha, 62), Vitinha – Silva, Ronaldo (Ramos, 78), Neto (Joao Félix, 62)

HUN: Tóth B. – Nego, Orbán, Szalai, Kerkez (Dárdai M, 79) – Schäfer (Tóth A., 38), Styles (Vitális, 79), Szoboszlai – Bolla (Lukács, 58), Varga B, Sallai

Goalscorers: POR: Ronaldo (22, 45+3), HUN: Szalai (8), Szoboszlai (90+1)