Last-gasp goal takes Hungary to Euro 2024!

Hungary had taken a 10th-minute lead through Martin Ádám but conceded twice - the second with just 12 minutes to go after both teams had been reduced to 10 men - but Rossi's charges summoned the energy to find the latest of equalisers and ensure they reach Euro 2024 with one group game still to play.

There was a familiar feel to Hungary's starting lineup with the experienced Dénes Dibusz in goal behind a back three of Endre Botka, Ádám Lang and Attila Szalai. Callum Styles and Ádám Nagy anchored the central midfield with Milos Kerkez on the left and Loic Nego on the right with captain Dominik Szoboszlai and Kevin Csoboth providing creativity lone centre forward Martin Ádám.

Indeed it was Szoboszlai and Ádám who combined early on to provide the visitors with the perfect start, the former's vicious waist-high free-kick from the right wing headed powerfully into the centre of the goal by the latter. Hungary weren't ahead for long though, Spasz Delev rounding off a swift Bulgaria counter-attack and planting a 24th-minute deflected shot past Dibusz with his right foot from a central position 14 metres from goal.

The scores were level but another potentially significant twist came 12 minutes later when the hosts were reduced to ten men, Valentin Antov dismissed for a second bookable offence. Hungary couldn't exploit this deficit though and lost a man of their own just before the hour mark, Kerkez unluckily incurring a second yellow card after his momentum in reaching a ball first sent him sliding into an opposing defender.

The ascendancy was thereafter assumed by the home team but they were fortunate to find another goal when a debatable penalty decision was capitalised upon by Kiril Despodov when he slotted the resultant spotkick wide of Dibusz and into the right side of the Hungary goal in the 79th minute.

This signalled a greater sense of urgency from Rossi's players who clearly didn't want to leave Euro qualification until what would become a winner-takes-all encounter with Montenegro on Sunday. Captain Szoboszlai led the attacking intent, forcing two excellent saves from Bulgaria goalkeeper Naumov before swinging a 97th-minute free-kick deep into the opposing penalty area. Naumov came but couldn't reach the ball ahead of his own defender Petkov, who could only haplessly head it back into an empty net to spark wild Hungarian celebrations. 

There was barely time to restart play, the final whistle signalling more whoops of joy from the Hungarian contingent who now know that the team lies second in Group G on 15 points, one point behind leaders Serbia and crucially an unassailable four ahead of nearest rivals Montenegro with just Sunday's match remaining. This means that for the first time since the 1986 World Cup, Hungary have qualified automatically for a men's major international football tournament.
 
Bulgaria 2-2 Hungary (HT: 1-1)
Sofia, Vaszil Levszki National Stadium, behind closed doors. Ref: Stefanski (POL)

BULGARIA: Naumov - V. Popov, A. Petkov, Antov, Nedyalkov - F. Krastev, Chuchev (Atanasov, 43), Gruev - Despodov (Rusev, 83), Minchev (Kolev, 72), Delev (S. Ivanov, 83.). Head coach: Ilian Iliev

HUNGARY: Dibusz – Botka (Kalmár, 81), Lang, Szalai A. – Nego (Gazdag, 81), Á. Nagy, Styles, Kerkez – Szoboszlai, Csoboth (Zs. Nagy, 59) – Ádám Martin (A. Németh), 74).
Head coach: Marco Rossi

Goalscorers: BUL: Delev (24), Despodov (79, pen) HUN: Ádám Martin (10), A. Petkov (90+7, own goal)

Red cards: BUL Antov (36), HUN: Kerkez (57)