Austria vs Hungary match report: Adam Szalai and Zoltan Stieber score in second-half to down 10-man Austria
Austria 0 Hungary 2: Aleksandar Dragovic sent-off as Hungary take points in Group F opener
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Your support makes all the difference.Hungary achieved their first victory at the European Championships, and their first in any major competition since defeating El Salvador 10-1 at the 1982 World Cup, to spark wild celebrations here with team and supporters.
In the heart of the party was the familiar figure of ex-Crystal Palace and Fulham goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, still wearing the grey tracksuit bottoms, and playing as well as ever at the age of 40.
Kiraly became the oldest player to compete in a European Championship finals - and justified his selection with a very good save when the game remained poised at nil-nil.
Taking special acclaim, however, was Adam Szalai, who scored the game’s crucial opening goal - and his first in 39 matches for clubs and country.
The Bundesliga player last scored for Hungary against the Faroe Islands in 2014 and was overcome with delight.
Austria, coached by Marcel Koller who played under Roy Hodgson for Switzerland, were reduced to 10 men three minutes later and, as they pushed forward were killed off on the break by Zoltan Steiber in the 88th minute.
Up to Szalai’s goal it had been an attractive match with a bit of bite but lacking the tension and urgency a goal injects.
Both sides set up with 4-2-3-1, Hungary pushing Laszlo Kleinheisler forward to stop Austria bringing the ball out.
The youngster, who won a transfer to Werder Bremen off the back making a goalscoring international debut in the play-offs (a remarkable call-up given he had not played for his club all season due to a contract dispute) impressed with his movement and link play.
The Austrian No.10, Zlatko Junuzovic, also plays for Werder and he, too, caught the eye before suffering one kick too many and limping off.
There were touches of class too, from the elegant former Fulham and West Bromwich midfielder, Zoltan Gera, now 37 and, like Kiraly, rolling back the years.
The first player to shine, though, was no surprise. Bayern Munich’s David Alaba was the one player on the pitch with real pedigree and less than 30 seconds had elapsed when sent a dipping 25-yard drive past Kiraly only to hit the post.
Hungary’s last appearance at a major tournament, in 1986, opened with a 6-0 drubbing by the Soviet Union and this narrow escape only increased their evident nerves.
Austria, however, were unable to exploit their anxiety; Alaba came the closest, but his snap-shot from Marko Arnautovic’s cross was too close to Kiraly.
Hungary grew in confidence, and started to show they could play a bit, moving the ball around sweetly if not with much pace.
Szalai should have put them ahead, but betrayed his lack of belief in front of goal as he mis-cued a free header from a Balazs Dzsudzsak cross.
As half-time approached Austria, prepared to play long as well as short, came close when Arnautovic headed a long ball down to Junuzovic whose volley was superbly saved one-handed, low to left by Kiraly.
Arnautovic and Junuzovic combined again but Martin Harnik wasted the opportunity. So did Dzsudzsak at the other end after Kleinheisler put him through.
Then, just after the hour, came Szalai’s moment of joy. A minute previously a poor touch had been jeered but this time he chested a long pass to Kleinheisler, exchanged further passes with him, then, with Christian Fuchs playing him onside, steered the ball under Robert Almer.
Austria thought they had levelled within three minutes through Martin Hinteregger’s spectacular goal but their glee turned to anger as referee Clement Turpin disallowed the goal and dismissed Aleksander Dragovic. The defender had fouled Tamas Kadar in the build-up to incur a second yellow card in the build-up.
Despite being a man short Austria pressed and the ball whistled across the Hungarian goal several times. However, they inevitably had to leave themselves short at the back and Steiber took advantage running clear to best Almer with a lovely chipped finish.
Teams: Austria (4-2-3-1) Almer; Klein, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Fuchs; Baumgartlinger, Alaba; Harnik (Schopf, 76), Junuzovic (Sabitzer, 59), Arnautovic; Janko (Okotie, 64).
Hungary (4-2-3-1) Kiraly; Fiola, Guzmics, Lang, Kadar; Nagy, Gera; Dzsudzsak, Kleinheisler (Steiber, 79), Nemeth (Pinter, 89); Szalai (Priskin, 69).
Referee C Turpin (France)
Man of the match Kleinheisler
Match rating 7
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