The Hungarian national football team qualified for next year's European Championship in Germany, as they played a 2-2 draw as a guest of Bulgaria in the qualifying match behind closed doors in Sofia on Thursday.
Team captain Marco Rossi took the lead in the 10th minute with Ádám Martin's header, but the home team unexpectedly equalized with Szpaz Delev's goal. Due to the sending off of Valentin Antov, the Bulgarians went into the break with a man disadvantage. In the continuation, Milos Kerkez also received a red card, and with Kiril Deszpodov's 11, the Bulgarians were already in the lead, but in the last moment of extra time, Aleksz Petkov's own goal resulted in Hungary's participation in the European Championship.
The national team, undefeated since 11 meetings, increased its advantage over third-placed Montenegro to seven points with the draw, but its group lead has not yet been lost, as the Serbians, who are on a day off, are two points behind.
The Hungarians will host the Montenegrin national team in the Puskás Arena on Sunday from 15:00 in the last round of the qualifying group.
While the teams were warming up on the field thirty minutes before the start of the match, the police outside the facility dispersed the protesting Bulgarian fans with water cannons, and the music blaring from the loudspeakers was drowned out by the sound of sirens in the empty Vaszil Levszki National Stadium.
Despite another awkward interlude surrounding the meeting - the venue of the match in Sofia was confirmed only on Tuesday after several changes - the ball went on its way as planned.
From the first moment, it was felt that the Hungarian team wanted to end the question of advancing as soon as possible in this match.
Accordingly, Marco Rossi's students attacked deep, and the Bulgarians could not even lead an appreciable attack in the first twenty minutes. On the other hand, we didn't have to wait a minute for the first Hungarian shot, but Szoboszlai missed the target, as did Styles and Ádám in a better position not long after.
Despite the first missed opportunities, it took barely ten minutes for the leading goal, which Ádám headed in from the back of the goal.
The Bulgarians reached the goal of Dibusz, who was celebrating his 33rd birthday, after twenty minutes, but even then not by his own strength, because Ádám Nagy gave the ball away in his own half, but Attila Szalai corrected his teammate's mistake.
However, no one could help with the first quick and effective Bulgarian action, so the home team unexpectedly equalized, which encouraged them, i.e. the picture of the match became even. Antov's sending off was the next turning point, and the Bulgarians were almost at a double man disadvantage, but the video referee saved Grujev from the red card. From then on, the Hungarians dominated football, but they did not score a goal until the break.
After a half-court change, the national team took advantage of its man advantage and played football with great dominance, its opponent did not even cross the halfway line.
Szoboszlai had some promising attempts, the first one was saved by the Bulgarian goalkeeper, the second time from a 17-meter free kick he missed by inches, while the third time his shot was blocked. With the sending off of Kerkez, the numbers were evened out, and although the Hungarians remained on the attack, the Bulgarians got out of the grip and were now able to keep the ball.
In the match, mainly the flashes of Szoboszlai, who was playing football with great enthusiasm throughout, resulted in scoring opportunities, after a precise pass, Nego did not hit the ball well, and then the Liverpool star curled a shot into the top left corner. The home team unexpectedly scored a penalty and took the lead by selling it.
The Hungarians attacked in vain in the remaining ten minutes, mainly only Szoboszlai's free kicks caused excitement, but nothing wanted to come together. Seizing the last chance in the seventh minute of the extra time, Petkov slid the Hungarian team captain's forward pass into his own goal, thus sending the Hungarians to the European Championship.
After the whistle, the national team wore the uniforms celebrated in the starting circle, and then sang the National Anthem with the supporters with badges of honor.
The Euro group draw will be held on December 2 in Hamburg.
MTI
Cover photo: The joy of the Hungarian team's goal in the ninth round of the European Championship qualifiers, in the match between Bulgaria and Hungary in Group G at the Vaszil Levszki National Stadium in Sofia
Source: MTI/Tibor Illyés
