Last-gasp Ireland end Hungary unbeaten run

2024. június. 05., 00:32 |

An added-time winner from Tottenham Hotspur forward Troy Parrott handed Republic of Ireland their first victory under interim head coach John O' Shea and at the same time condemned Hungary to their first defeat since 2022. Hungary defender Ádám Lang had earlier cancelled out Adam Idah's headed opener from close range near the end of the first half, but Parrott raced clear on goal in the 92nd minute and generated enough power in his shot to beat goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz and secure a 2-1 success for the home team in Dublin.

Hungary head coach Marco Rossi opted for his familiar and favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi stationed behind Ádám Lang, Willi Orbán and Márton Dárdai and a four-man midfield of Loic Nego, Ádám Nagy, András Schäfer and Milos Kerkez supporting playmakers Dominik Szoboszlai and Roland Sallai with Barnabás Varga as the focal point upfront.

The visitors were seeking to preserve a 14-match unbeaten record and their confidence was evident from the outset, Loic Nego going close in the first couple of minutes before further chances for Nego again and Kerkez. Against the run of play though, Ireland took the lead when Idah headed in a right-wing cross in the 36th minute.

Only four minutes later and Hungary were level, Orbán heading on Szoboszlai's bouncing shot and Lang arriving at the right post crashing the ball under the crossbar and into the Irish net. Rossi's team dominated possession in the second half but couldn't find another way through a stoic home defence and instead a much-changed side after a raft of substitutions were dealt a late blow through Parrott's added-time winner.

Hungary's next match comes at 18:00 CET on Saturday against Israel in Debrecen's Nagyerdei Stadion.

Republic of Ireland 2–1 Hungary (HT: 1–1)
Dublin, Aviva Stadion, 29,424 spectators. Ref: Godinho (POR)
IRE: Kelleher – Coleman, Duffy (Scales, 46), D. O'Shea – Doherty (J. O'Brien, 46), Cullen (Knight, 79), Smallbone, Brady (O'Dowda, 62) – Azaz (Parrott, 62), Idah (Obafemi, 72), Szmodics.
HUN: Gulácsi (Dibusz, 46) – Lang (Botond Balogh, 73), Orbán, Dárdai M. – Nego (Botka, 46), Nagy Á., Schäfer (Styles, 70), Kerkez (Zsolt Nagy, 70) – Sallai, Szoboszlai – Varga B. (Kleinheisler, 61).
Goalscorers: IRE: Idah (36), Parrott (92), HUN: Lang (40)