Hungary top group after first round of matches

Portugal and Iceland drew 1-1 in their opening match yesterday evening, which means that Hungary go into their next match on Saturday as group F leaders.

With Hungary having already beaten Austria 2-0 earlier in the evening, the other two teams in Group F, Portugal and Iceland, took to the field later in the late match at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne.

It would be Iceland who carved out the first chance, Rui Patrício saving well from a fierce Gylfi Sigurdsson shot, but it was Portugal who dominated proceedings. Creating numerous goalscoring opportunities, Fernando Santos’ side finally took the lead in the 31st minute as Nani swept home an André Gomes cross. Portugal continued to rule the roost thereafter, but failed to find a second goal the all-crucial second goal.

This would come back to bite them, Iceland equalising five minutes into the second half through Birkir Bjarnason who, unmarked at the back post, volleyed home a Johann Gudmundsson cross. Portugal went on to exerted almost relentless pressure on the Iceland rearguard as they pushed for a winner, but it wasn’t to be, the Icelandic defence holding firm as they secured a draw in their first ever match at a major tournament.

The result means that after the first round of matches in Group F, Hungary lead with three points, ahead of Portugal and Iceland on one, and Austria on zero. Hungary’s next match is on Saturday against Iceland at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, whilst Austria take on Portugal later that evening at the Parc de Princes in Paris.

Portugal 1-1 Iceland (1-0)

Portugal: Rui Patrício – Vieirinha, Ricardo Carvalho, Pepe, Guerreiro – João Mário (Quaresma 76’), Danilo Pereira, André Gomes (Éder 84’) – Nani, João Moutinho (Renato Sanches 71’), Cristiano Ronaldo. Head coach: Fernando Santos
Iceland: Halldórsson – Saevarsson, Sigurdsson, Árnason, Skúlason – Gudmundsson (E. Bjarnason 90’), Gunnarsson, G. Sigurdsson, B. Bjarnason – Sigthórsson (Finnbogason 80’), Bödvarsson. Head coaches: Lars Lagerbäck & Heimir Hallgrímsson

-MLSZ press release

Source: http://en.mlsz.hu/