National Team Comes Back from Two Goals Down to Draw In Lithuania

The Hungarian national football team came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Lithuania in a European Championship qualifying match in Kaunas, and although they remained top of their group, they did not secure their place in the tournament.

Fedor Černych and Pijus Širvys gave the home side a two-goal lead against the Hungarian team, who played poorly in the first half. After the break, the tables were turned as Marco Rossi’s side dominated the game, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal and Barnabás Varga’s equalizer in the 82nd minute. It was his 20th goal of the season.

In the group, Hungary’s lead over Serbia was reduced to one point, but it increased to six ahead of third-placed Montenegro, thus only one point is needed for the qualification.

The team will next visit last-placed Bulgaria on November 16.

“It was my idea to have Szoboszlai playing further back, but it did not work. It is as if we missed the first half completely, we left a big space for the opposition, who took advantage of it. The changes we made at the break worked, the game changed completely, we broke through the rival’s defense several times, so we had a lot of chances, but the Lithuanian goalkeeper made great saves, so we did not win,” head coach Rossi assessed the game, stressing that his team had suffered physically in this game.

We are not happy because we wanted to win. However, we are taking it step by step and we are on the right track.”

Progress is never smooth and straightforward, there are always bumps in the road,” noted Rossi, who said of the opponents that they took advantage of their physicality and played aggressive and good football.

“I am satisfied because we played with the strongest team in the group. We played great football in the first half, we were 2-0 up, but after the break the Hungarians showed what a strong team they have. (…) It was a fair result,” emphasized Lithuanian coach Edgaras Jankauskas, who praised Szoboszlai, adding that Hungarian football should be proud to have such a player.

Via MTI, Featured image via MTI/Illyés Tibor