EURO 2016 – Guzmics goal helps Hungary to a draw in Belfast

Hungary’s hopes of qualification to EURO 2016 were boosted last night as a first international goal from Richárd Guzmics almost gave his team a famous win over ten-man group leaders Northern Ireland in Belfast, only for a last-minute goal from Kyle Lafferty to restrict Bernd Storck’s team to a draw.

Although Northern Ireland dominated the opening exchanges, Hungary’s Balázs Dzsudzsák was first to threaten but his low drive flashed a metre wide. Lafferty was then booked for a lunge on Richárd Guzmics which rules him out of Northern Ireland’s next match against Greece.

Michael O’Neill’s team couldn’t fashion a clear chance to take the lead their dominance deserved but they started the second-half purposefully and Lafferty twice went close to connecting with passes in front of goal. The game had become much more open and Zoltán Gera nearly broke the deadlock in the 66th minute but his 20-metre drive flew a metre wide.

Zsolt Kalmár then tested Michael McGovern’s palms with a vicious free-kick and a great few minutes for Hungary concluded when they took the lead in the 74th minute, Michael McGovern spilling Dzsudzsák’s free-kick and Guzmics knocking in the rebound from just a few metres out.

Chris Baird was then dismissed for Northern Ireland for two fouls in the same phase of play as the home team’s dreams of EURO 2016 were temporarily left in tatters. However, Lafferty at least salvaged a point when he reached the ball first after Gábor Király’s palm out and rifled it into the roof of the net.

Northern Ireland next take on Greece at Windsor Park while Hungary will look forward to a home match at the Groupama Aréna in Budapest against the Faroe Islands in early October.

Northern Ireland 1-1 Hungary

NORTHERN IRELAND: Michael McGovern – Chris Baird, Jonny Evans, Gareth McAuley, Conor McLaughlin – Corry Evans (Niall McGinn, 56.), Oliver Norwood (Josh Magennis, 75.), Stuart Dallas (Shane Ferguson, 83.) – Chris Brunt, Steven Davis – Kyle Lafferty

HUNGARY: Király Gábor – Fiola Attila, Guzmics Richárd, Kádár Tamás, Leandro – Elek Ákos (Nagy Ádám, 21.), Gera Zoltán – Dzsudzsák Balázs, Kalmár Zsolt, Németh Krisztián (Vanczák Vilmos, 89.) – Szalai Ádám (Priskin Tamás, 68.)

Goalscorers: Lafferty 93′; HUN: Guzmics 74′

Group F standing after eight rounds:

1. Northern Ireland 17 points
2. Romania 16 points
3. HUNGARY 13 points
4. Finland 10 points
5. Faroe-Islands 6 points
6. Greece 3 points

Source: en.mlsz.hu