Dominant Hungary thwarted by Ivory Coast

MLSZ – Hungary went close to defeating Africa’s continental champions Ivory Coast in a positive display at the Groupama Aréna in Budapest today but despite creating several chances in the first half, the winning goal that a boisterous home crowd craved was not quite forthcoming.

Both sides started brightly in what had been anticipated to be an open match, Balázs Dzsudzsák seeing several shots from distance blocked and central midfielder Ádám Pintér also finding his effort deflected to safety after he’d stormed into the box unmarked to reach the ball after good wing-play from Ádám Gyurcsó. Gyurcsó also had a inswinging free-kick from the left channel well-saved by Sylvain Gbohouo but the visitors weren’t without their moments of danger either, Max Gradel screwing his low drive from the right side of the penalty area across the face of goal.

The momentum was clearly with the home team though and it seemed only a matter of time before Bernd Storck’s men would take the lead, Kleinheisler latching onto a loose ball only for his instinctive,first-time volley to career narrowly over the crossbar, before Gyurcsó then broke clear just after the half-hour mark and tested Gbohouo, who was grateful to one of his defenders for blocking Szalai’s follow-up shot on the line after the ball had rebounded from the keeper’s outstretched left palm.

Time and again Szalai would find himself in the right place at the right time in an encouraging first-half performance but his use of the ball will be the one area he’ll be looking to improve upon in the coming weeks, one or two misplaced passes and that chance from close range being the only moments holding him back from posting a genuinely impressive performance.