Hungary gained brave draw in Switzerland 39 years ago

(photo: László Bálint pictured playing for Hungary in 1978 - from the archive of József Farkas)

Drawn in a tough qualification group with England, Romania, Switzerland and Norway, Kálmán Mészöly's Hungary faced a real challenge to reach the 1982 World Cup in Spain, but impressive away form - including a point gained in Luzern on 28 April 1981 - was the foundation for a successful journey to the then latest edition of world football's biggest tournament.

The fixture in Luzern was Hungary's first competitive fixture since a 3-1 victory over Finland in late 1979 had proved insufficent to secure qualification to the 1980 UEFA European Championships. A period of transition was clearly evident, only one player - László Kiss - keeping his place in the starting lineup 18 months on and this may have contributed to difficult opening half an hour under pressure from the Swiss. After falling behind to a sharp, 12-metre half-volley from home marksman Claudio Sulser in the 31st minute and riding their luck for much of the first half, Hungary restored parity just before the half-time break when possession was regained in midfield and Sándor Müller fed László Bálint to surge forward with the ball. He exchanged passes with a prone András Töröcsik who'd slipped onto one knee just outside the Swiss penalty area before sliding the ball to the left of goalkeeper Erich Burgener and into the bottom-left corner of the net.

The scoreline therefore read 1-1 at half-time but this soon changed again when the hosts worked the ball into the Hungary box from the right wing and Grasshoppers Zürich forward Sulser's low drive was deflected past a static Ferenc Mészáros in the 47th minute. By this point, Hungary's goalkeeper had already denied an opponent from point-blank range and soon after the second Swiss goal, the Vasas SC custodian kept his country in the game with a tremendously acrobatic, one-handed save onto the crossbar from a header, the rebound somehow being scrambled away. That intervention would turn out to be crucial because in the 64th minute, Hungary earned a penalty which Müller dispatched into the left side of the goal to level the scores at 2-2.

Swiss left-back Herbert Hermann's late red card helped Hungary manage the game to a conclusion which ensured a hard-earned point in their quest for 1982 World Cup qualification, one which they would succeed in later in 1981 with a home victory against Norway which ensured Hungary would qualify as Group 4 winners.

Switzerland 2-2 Hungary

Goalscorers: SUI: Sulser 31,47; HUN: Bálint 45, Müller 64

SUI (surnames first): Burgener Erich, Hermann Herbert, Zappa Gianpietro, Egli Andre, Hermann Heinz, Wehrli Roger, Barberis Umberto, Botteron Rene (c), Scheiwiler Fredy (Zwicker Hanspeter, 78), Sulser Claudio, Elsener Rudolf.

HUN (surnames first): Mészáros Ferenc, Martos Győző, Bálint László, Garaba Imre, Tóth József, Müller Sandor (Varga József, 81), Csapó Károly (Szántó Gábor, 75), Mucha József, Fazekas László (c), Kiss László, Töröcsik András.