Hungary's unbeaten run stretches to 14 matches

2024. március. 26., 21:21 |

An early second-half strike from captain and talisman Dominik Szoboszlai set Hungary on their way to a 2-0 triumph at home to Kosovo in Budapest's Puskás Aréna on Tuesday evening, Zsolt Nagy's late goal securing a win which extends the national team's unbeaten run to 14 matches going back 18 months.

Hungary head coach Marco Rossi opted for a familiar 3-4-3 formation, Dénes Dibusz getting the nod in goal behind a three-man rearguard of Attila Szalai, Márton Dárdai and Ádám Lang. Callum Styles and Ádám Nagy anchored the central midfield with Zsolt Nagy wide on the left and Bendegúz Bolla patrolling the right flank while central striker Martin Ádám was supported by Dominik Szoboszlai to the left and Dániel Gazdag to the right in attack.

Visitors Kosovo were compact in defence and frustrated a Hungary side which was patient but increasingly looked a little bereft of ideas as the first half wore on. Finally, in the 58th minute, Hungary's pressure told, Bolla's pass setting substitute Schäfer free down the right channel and his low pull-back was converted clinically by the arriving Szoboszlai eleven metres from goal.

A raft of further substitutions followed for both sides and naturally the away team tried to push for an equalising goal, but instead it was the hosts who doubled their advantage, Lang setting up Zsolt Nagy for a routine, close-range finish in the 86th minute. With another morale-boosting victory all but secure, Rossi handed a Hungary debut to Attila Mocsi and another cap to promising young winger Zalán Vancsa.

This latest success means Hungary are now unbeaten since September 2022, a run which comprises 14 matches and must surely put the squad in a tremendously positive frame of mind as they now look forward to their final two Euro 2024 warm-up fixtures in June.

Hungary 2-0 Kosovó (HT: 0-0)

Hungary (surnames first): Dibusz Dénes – Lang Ádám, Dárdai Márton, Szalai Attila– Bolla Bendegúz (Nego Loic, 68), Nagy Ádám (Schäfer András, 46), Styles Callum (Vancsa Zalán 84), Nagy Zsolt (Mocsi Attila, 87)– Gazdag Dániel (Kleinheisler László, 46), Szoboszlai Dominik – Ádám Martin (Varga Barnabás, 46)

Kosovo: Muric – Vojvoda, Rrahmani, Aliti, Rrudhani (Hadergjonaj, 71) – Idrizi (Loshaj, 83), Berisha (A. Rrahmani, 83) – Zhegrova (Bytiqi, 64), Muslija (Celina, 64), Rashica – Muriqi (Rashani, 64)

Goalscorers: Szoboszlai (58), Nagy Zsolt (86)