Ten-man Hungary hold on for draw in Dublin

The away team started superbly, Barnabás Varga taking just 113 seconds to edge Hungary in front before Sallai doubled the advantage in the 15th minute with a finely-judged glancing header. Ireland halved the deficit through Evan Ferguson shortly after half-time though and Sallai's red card shortly afterwards changed the dynamic of the game, Ireland eventually finding a stoppage-time equaliser through substitute Adam Idah to ensure both sides can take a point away from their opening match. 

Hungary head coach Marco Rossi had opted to employ a relatively unfamiliar 4-1-4-1 formation, goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz lining up behind left-back Milos Kerkez, central defenders Attila Szalai and Willi Orbán and right-back Loic Nego. Callum Styles filled the defensive central midfield role behind an attacking midfield four from left to right of Roland Sallai, captain Dominik Szoboszlai, Alex Tòth and Bendegúz Bolla, who supported central striker Barnabás Varga upfront.

Instantly, it proved an inspired lineup selection, Styles collecting a half-clearance in the second minute and lofting the ball forward for Varga to latch on to and crash past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and high into the Ireland net.

Thirteen minutes later and a dominant Hungary doubled their lead, Roland Sallai heading in Szoboszlai's right-wing corner six metres from goal. The visitors largely maintained their first-half dominance thereafter, Sallai nearly increasing his team's advantage further from close range from Bolla's cross, only for Kelleher to block well. A warning came in stoppage time though, Dibusz beating away Evan Ferguson's shot from 14 metres. 

Hungary were no doubt determined to heed this warning after the half-time break, but instead Ireland halved the deficit within five minutes of the restart, a melee in Dibusz's box resulting in Ferguson stabbing the ball into the away-team net from just four metres. The situation suddenly started to look darker and darker for Hungary when Sallai was shown a red card for a late challenge in the 52nd minute, but the ten men in red regrouped admirably and Bolla even went close several times to re-establishing their two-goal cushion.

The Rapid Wien winger was withdrawn in the 67th minute and again Rossi's decision paid dividends, substitute Attila Mocsi rescuing Hungary in the 72nd minute by putting in a vital block to deny Sammy Szmodics an equaliser from a tight angle.

Rossi's team remained solid and stoic, but just as it seemed as if Hungary would record a famous victory, Ireland substitute Adam Idah powered in a 93rd-minute header from Ryan Manning's cross to make the score 2-2. The hosts nearly even snatched victory in the 96th minute, only for Dara O'Shea to head the ball over Dibusz's crossbar from eight metres out.

Although Hungary may feel slight regret at not maintaining their two-goal lead until the end, an away draw against their likely rivals for a play-off spot has to be viewed as an encouraging start to the campaign. Rossi's squad entertain Portugal at home in the Puskás Aréna next, that fixture due to be played on Tuesday evening in Budapest. Ireland, meanwhile, will travel to Armenia.

Republic of Ireland 2–2 Hungary (HT: 0–2)

ROI: Kelleher – O’Brien, Collins, O’Shea, Doherty (Ogbene, 66) – Knight (McAteer, 90), Cullen (Taylor, 66), Azaz (Idah, 78) – Szmodics (Johnston (78), Ferguson, Manning
HUN: Dibusz – Nego, Orbán, Szalai A., Kerkez (Nagy Zs, 80) –  Styles – Bolla (Mocsi, 67), Szoboszlai, Tóth A. (Ötvös, 55), Sallai – Varga B. (Tóth B, 80)
Goalscorers: ROI: Ferguson (49), Idah (90+3), HUN: Varga B. (2), Sallai (15)
Red cards: Sallai (52)