HIGHLIGHTS | Ireland 2-1 Hungary

HIGHLIGHTS | Ireland 2-1 Hungary

Troy Parrott secured victory for the Republic of Ireland in added-on time in the Aviva Stadium as they defeated Hungary who are bound for UEFA EURO 2024.

Adam Idah opened the scoring for the Boys in Green before a Hungarian leveller from Lang just before halftime. It looked as if the tie would end in a stalemate before Parrott broke free in the last minute of the game to score the match-winner. 

John O’Shea handed Finn Azaz his first full start in a green shirt having featured in the March internationals. Jake O’Brien would come on in the second half to make his full Irish debut following an impressive season with Ligue 1 side Lyon. 

The first chance of the game came in the opening minutes when the visitors had a sight on goal, Négo met Sallai's cross from the right, but Kelleher comfortably gathered his effort. Négo was to go close again with Varga's deep run allowed him to play a short pass in the area to the Hungarian striker, but his attempt went over the crossbar. 

After a deft pass to the edge of the box, Kerkez struck the ball first time, forcing Kelleher to dive right and push his effort wide for a corner in what was the first of a set of fine saves to deny the away side during the game. 

Ireland was to open the scoring following some patient build-up play that saw Matt Doherty play the ball into the path of Will Smallbone, whose cross was met by Adam Idah, who unmarked headed it past Gulácsi from close range. 

Hungary was to level the tie minutes later when an initial short free-kick was sent towards the back post via a deflection with Lang on hand to steer the ball home, sending the ball to the roof of the net.

Hungary had a chance to take the lead early in the second half when Varga’s header from Kerkez’s corner looped over Kelleher's far post. The Irish keeper was called into action twice in quick succession as he denied Salli with another diving stop to push the ball around the post for a corner. From that set piece, he had to get down low to deny Schäfer. 

Liam Scales was to deny a brace of scoring chances when a free kick from Szoboszlai was cleared for a corner by the Irish defender and the resulting set piece was also cleared with a well-placed clearance. 

Seamus Coleman was to earn Ireland a corner following a breaking run down the left, where the ball was collected by the defender with his cross to Obafemi taking a deflection. Hungary were to clear their lines and break with a counterattack from that set piece, which saw Kelleher get down well to save Sallai’s long-range effort. 

Ireland was to continue to press in the latter stages of the match, with Obafemi injecting some pace in the final third and Seamus Coleman once again having great sight on goal after his advancing run. The Irish captains' volley on the edge of the area went wide of Dibusz’s near post.

Ireland were to secure the win in added-on time as Ireland were to counterattack from an initial Hungarian corner. Troy Parrott’s persistence to regain possession to mount an attack saw him break free of the Hungarian defence and find himself one-on-one with the keeper, his effort broke off Dibusz en route to nestling in the back of the net to secure the win.

Ireland complete this international window with a trip to Portugal this Friday. 

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Coleman, Duffy (Scales 46), O'Shea, Cullen (Knight 78), Doherty (O'Brien 46), Smallbone, Idah (Obafemi 70), Brady (O'Dowda 61), Szmodics, Azaz (Parrott 61

Subs not used: O'Leary (GK), Harrington (GK), Stevens, Obafemi, Sykes, Johnston, Scales, McGrath, Cannon, O'Brien, Lawal

Hungary: Gulácsi (Dibusz (GK) 46), Lang (Balogh 73), Orbán, Négo (Botka 46), Á. Nagy, Szoboszlai, Kerkez (Nagy 71), Schäfer (Styles 71), B. Varga (Kleinheisler 61) , Sallai, Dárdai.

Subs not used: Dibusz (GK), Szappanos (GK), A. Szalai, Fiolam, Ádám, Bolla, Gazdag, Csoboth, Horváth, Kata

Booked: Coleman, Szoboszlai, Scales, Szmodics, Styles

Sent off: None

Player of the Match: Will Smallbone

Referee: Luis Godinho (POR)

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