Brave Hungary make Spain work hard for victory

According to Hungarian Football Federation, Sito Rivera’s brave Hungary team made life uncomfortable for the world’s top-ranked futsal national side Spain as a battling performance led to a respectable 5-2 defeat in Belgrade in their opening European Championship group match in Belgrade on Tuesday.

Hungary started courageously and registered several shots at Spain’s goal before Péter Németh was desperately unlucky in conceding an own goal in the eighth minute. Bebe extended Spain’s lead in the 15th minute before Miguelin made it three just before the half-time break.

The mlsz.hu said, Hungary did not give up though and talismanic striker Zoltán Dróth pulled a goal back from an explosive free-kick. Miguelin restored the five-time European champions’ three-goal lead in the 29th minute and Andresito made it 5-1 but Dróth scored his second goal from ten metres to ensure Hungary retained plenty of respect and put them in a positive frame of mind ahead of Thursday’s crucial clash with the other team in the group, Ukraine.

Sito Rivera, Hungary head coach: “Some months ago we lost 5-0 to Spain so today we have proved that, as much as one match can do, we have developed a lot. Of course we can still improve, primarily in defence where we need to take steps forward. We played a good match against one of the world’s best – no one plays the game quicker than they did today so we can build on this achievement on Thursday against Ukraine. I very much liked our players’ belief and self-confidence because although we had our difficulties, we didn’t give up the fight even for a moment”.