Varga hands Hungary important victory in Armenia

Varga's strike was just reward for a positive first-half display by Hungary, who then remained stoic in the second half to preserve their lead despite not reaching the heights of their first-half performance. 

The Hungarian men's national team travelled to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, on Tuesday, and trained at the match venue on Wednesday, ahead of the teams' third-ever meeting on Thursday. Head coach Marco Rossi made only one change to the starting line-up that achieved a brilliant draw in their last away match against Portugal, Dénes Dibusz, who played in the first World Cup qualifier in Ireland, replacing injury-stricken Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balázs Tóth.

The match's first shot came from Hungary's wide forward Bendegúz Bolla in just the third minute before András Schäfer and Roland Sallai both threatened to trouble Armenia's goalkeeper Henri Avagyan. Two unsuccessful corners from captain Dominik Szoboszlai followed as Hungary asserted their authority in the early stages, enjoying almost 70% possession of the ball. 

The 19th minute saw Szoboszlai's long-range shot blocked and moments later, Willi Orbán's deft heel-flick from Loic Nego's pass rolled just wide. Armenia did threaten occasionally, such as when Attila Szalai was forced to block Sevikyan's shot from seven metres, but there was no doubt which side was dominant, Hungary's reward coming in the 33rd minute when Szoboszlai's left-wing cross was headed into the right side of the goal by Barnabás Varga, outjumping a defender nine metres from goal. 

This was the Ferencváros striker's fourth goal in this qualifying campaign, having also scored against the Republic of Ireland, Portugal and now Armenia. Varga's goal also meant that Rossi's team had taken the lead for a fifth consecutive World Cup qualifier, and it was also the first time we had scored against Armenia in the first half of a game. One-nil remained the half-time scoreline, there being no doubt Hungary deserved their advantage and it's one they were successful in preserving, despite not playing as well in the second period.
 
Armenia started the second half more pro-actively, in possession at first, but then in terms of shots at goal as the home team clearly adopted a bolder and more attacking approach. Ranos' 12-metre drive was blocked by Orbán and Sevikyan also threatened to equalise, but to no avail. Home defender Muradyan produced a sliding, goal-saving interception to deny Szoboszlai from close range. 

Three minutes later, Spertsian's long-range effort flew over the bar thanks to Dibusz's fingertip but Hungary held off their opponents and could easily have doubled their lead in the 78th minute, only for substitute Alex Tóth to slam his low shot off the right-hand post from Varga's cutback. There were still moments of tension in the final minutes, not least when Tiknizyan missed Dibusz's goal when well placed and in the final minutes of added time, when Eloyan miskicked just seven metres from goal. Hungary held on though and thus took a big step forward to finishing in second place in the group. 

In the group's other match this evening, the Republic of Ireland shocked ten-man Portugal 2-0 in Dublin, Cristiano Ronaldo being the player to be dismissed midway through the second half. This result reignites Irish hopes of reaching the World Cup, but their final group-stage opponents on Sunday will be Hungary, who know a win or even a draw in Budapest would be enough to secure second place and a play-off spot. Indeed, if Portugal were somehow to lose at home to Armenia, a win for Rossi's side would see them reach the World Cup automatically as group winners.


Armenia 0–1 Hungary (HT: 0–1) 

Armenia: Avagyan – S. Muradyan, Piloyan, Mkrtchyan, Tiknizyan – Spertsian, Hovhannisyan (Nalbandyan, 76), K. Muradyan (Aghassaryan, 90) – Sevikyan (Eloyan, 76), Shagoyan (Grigoryan, 70), Ranos (Serobyan, 76) 

Hungary: Dénes Dibusz – Loic Nego, Willi Orbán, Attila Szalai, Milos Kerkez (Zsolt Nagy, 86) – András Schäfer, Calum Styles (Milan Vitalis, 71) – Bendegúz Bolla (Dániel Lukács, 61), Dominik Szoboszlai, Roland Sallai (Alex Tóth, 71) – Barnabás Varga.

Goalscorer: Varga (33)