Northern Ireland and Hungary produced a stalemate in a UEFA Nations League encounter in Belfast tonight.
The goalless draw ensured Northern Ireland will now face Ukraine in a top of the table clash in League B Group 2 later this week.
Michael O’Neill’s team deserved more than a point against the Hungarians, who are top seeds in B2, in what was a niggly, often feisty game in front of a near full house at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park.
However, the draw means Northern Ireland are now locked on four points along with Ukraine in the group. While Northern Ireland were defeating Georgia 1-0 in Tbilisi on Friday, the Ukrainians were beating the Hungarians by a goal to nil in Budapest. Ukraine drew 0-0 with Georgia earlier today. Both the Georgians and the Hungarians have one point apiece after two games.
O’Neill’s team showed only one change from the side that started the win away to Georgia, Ruairi McConville replacing the injured Daniel Ballard at the heart of the defence.
It was cagey at the start, however the game sparked into life on 10 minutes when man of the match Ethan Galbraith had a shot blocked and then the Hungary defence thwarted an Isaac Price drive.
Three minutes later Trai Hume dragged a shot from distance wide of the target.
In the 20th minute Hungary, who are ranked 40th in the world compared to Northern Ireland in 68th position, had their first attempt when a deflected shot from Gabor Jurek squirmed past the post.
Ten minutes later Price slipped in Patrick Kelly and he produced a lovely chip from 30 yards which Hungary goalkeeper Balazs Toth did well to claw away. It was a tidy effort.
A long throw from Ciaron Brown into the area was flicked on by Tom Atcheson towards Shea Charles. The Northern Ireland captain appeared to be hauled down, however the ball eventually fell to Kelly whose sliced effort clipped the bar.
On 40 minutes Price curled an effort inches over the bar as Northern Ireland continued to press.
Then a Justin Devenny free-kick, awarded when Hume was upended just outside the area, clipped off the Hungarian wall. Atcheson chased the loose ball but could not control it.
Shea Charles bravely charged down a blaster from Tamas Szucs as Hungary threatened.
Early in the second half Galbraith whipped in a cross which was headed goalwards by Jamie Donley, however Toth plucked the ball out of the air just under the bar.
Northern Ireland pushed once more. Charles whipped in a dangerous cross which Donley just failed to connect with.
Hungary’s first attack of the second period saw midfielder Andras Schafer slice a shot wide of the post before the same player produced a low drive from 30 yards which was also off target.
A Devenny corner was comfortably collected by Toth as the action swung to the other end of the pitch.
A nice combination between Pierce Charles, Hume and Kelly got Northern Ireland up the pitch. Kelly delivered a lovely ball into the area but it was headed clear.
Hungarian substitute Donat Barany put a header over the top before a curling cross from captain Dominik Szoboszlai swept past the far post.
Price tested the Hungary keeper with a low shot which he managed to push out for a corner.
Pierce Charles came flying off his line to punch away a Szoboszlai free-kick.
Ruairi McConville produced a superb block as Willi Orban smashed the ball towards goal six yards out.
In the closing stages both Szoboszlai and Hungary substitute Milan Vitalis steered efforts wide as both sides pushed for an opener.
And in the 90th minute Pierce Charles produced a good save to keep out a snapshot from another Hungarian sub, Alex Toth.
Northern Ireland had to settle for a point in the end. Both sides had 10 attempts on goal, although Northern Ireland had 17 attacks compared to Hungary’s 12.
Next up for Northern Ireland is a game against Ukraine on Friday at Štadión Antona Malatinského in Trnava (6.45pm kick-off). And then it’s Georgia at home next Monday (7.45pm start).
Northern Ireland: Pierce Charles, Trai Hume, Ruairi McConville, Tom Atcheson, Ciaron Brown, Justin Devenny, Ethan Galbraith, Shea Charles (captain), Patrick Kelly, Jamie Donley, Isaac Price.
Substitutes: (used) Dion Charles, Brodie Spencer, Josh Magennis; (unused) Conor Hazard, Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Terry Devlin, Michael Forbes, Ceadach O’Neill, Paul Smyth, Kieran Morrison, Paddy McNair, Braiden Graham.
Hungary: Balazs Toth, Milos Kerkez, Bendeguz Bolla, Mark Csinger, Willi Orban, Gabor Jurek, Tamas Szucs, Andras Schafer, Daniel Lukacs, Dominik Szoboszlai (captain), Aron Csongvai.
Substitutes: (used) Attila Osvath, Alex Toth, Donat Barany, Milan Toth, Milan Vitalis; (unused) Bence Gundel-Takacs (GK), Armin Pecsi (GK), Kornel Szucs, Akos Markgraf, Zsolt Nagy, Bence Varkonyi, Aron Dokorics.
Action from the National Stadium
