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Hungary one game away from EURO 2020 after beating Bulgaria in Sofia – PHOTOS, reactions
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A battling team performance and goals from Willy Orban, Zsolt Kalmár and Nemanja Nikolic gave Hungary a stirring 3-1 victory over hosts Bulgaria in Sofia and set up a EURO 2020 play-off final with Iceland in the Puskás Aréna next month.
Marco Rossi opted for a 3-4-1-2 formation in Bulgaria’s capital city, Péter Gulácsi in goal behind a back three of Willi Orban, Ádám Lang and Attila Fiola, with Kalmár playing well ahead of fellow central midfielders Ádám Nagy and Dávid Sigér. Filip Holender on the left and Attila Szalai on the right provided width while Roland Sallai was stationed behind lone striker and captain Ádám Szalai.
In the absence of emerging talent Dominik Szoboszlai, it was left to Dunaszerdhelyi AC playmaker Kalmár to provide much of the inspiration to a Hungary team desperate to secure a play-off final place in Budapest next month. Firstly, he won a 17th-minute corner which he swung in for Leipzig defender
Willi Orban to head into the bottom left area of Bulgaria’s goal.
Hungary were indebted to goalkeeper Gulácsi for three excellent saves during the remainder of the first half but it was Kalmár again who lifted his team early in the second period when his innovative, low, skidding free-kick caught out the home team’s goalkeeper at his near post from fully 30 metres out.
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Marco Rossi’s team were now in control of the game and remained so
after a VAR review denied Bulgaria a 57th-minute penalty after Ádám Lang was eventually adjudged not to have committed a foul in his own team’s penalty area. Buoyed by that decision, Hungary fought hard and protected their position in the game despite pressure from the hosts, a period during which Loic Nego came on for his Hungarian international debut after being cleared to play for the country only just last week. Rossi’s charges were rewarded for their endeavour in the 76th minute when two more substitutes, Szilveszter Hangya and Nemanja Nikolic, combined, the former crossing for the latter to head unmarked into the Bulgaria goal.
