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