UEFA Euro: Sensational Goal in the 101st Minute Keeps Hungary in the Race

The Hungarian national football team beat Scotland 1-0 with Kevin Csoboth’s 101st minute goal in the last round group match of the UEFA Euro in Stuttgart, thus finishing third in their group of four and keeping their chances of reaching the last eight.

It was clear before the kick-off that this was going to be one of the best group matches in the history of Hungary and Scotland, as the fans were extremely friendly, drinking and singing together. Thirty minutes before the whistle blew, almost everyone was in their seats, and the crowd was jumping and singing.

Although victory was the only hope for both teams to progress, the game was dominated by safety in the first minutes, with neither side taking any risks at first.

Offensively, both sides lacked creativity. The enjoyment of the match was further reduced as the game became fragmented due to minor fouls. The best opportunity came in the 41st minute when Szoboszlai took a free kick from a dangerous position, but still no goal was scored. All in all, the Scots had more possession but did not even attempt to score. The opponents’ first attempt came after 53 minutes, but Adams’ shot was badly over the top.

There were frightening moments in the encounter, as the Scottish goalkeeper struck the ball after Szoboszlai’s cross, leaving Barnabás Varga almost motionless on the ground in agony. Help was slow in arriving, with the Hungarian players having to rush medical staff and helpers holding the sheet covering Varga. The world press also reported on the incident, questioning why UEFA and the stretcher-bearers were slow to arrive on the pitch after seeing the injury. In addition, as The Telegraph pointed out, “what heightened the urgency was the fact that we had been here before, in this very tournament three years earlier, when Christian Eriksen collapsed on the Copenhagen pitch after a heart attack.”

Thankfully, the Hungarian federation soon confirmed that Varga’s condition was stable in a hospital in Stuttgart, but he would need surgery for a suspected facial fracture.

Varga was taken off the pitch to a round of applause, and then the game resumed and picked up a bit. In the ten minute extra time the Hungarians started to attack. Just when it looked like there would be no goal, Sallai, who was voted the best player of the match,

perfectly served Csoboth, who decided the match and the team finished third in the group.

The team and the fans celebrated for minutes after the goal, and after the match as well.

Kevin Csoboth highlighted that the feeling of scoring the winning goal is indescribable. “It is a huge happiness for me, I dedicate the success and this goal to Varga Barni,” stressed the Újpest striker. “We want to enjoy this win now because it was good to see our fans so happy. (…) They cheered us on until the last minute even when we were losing the previous two group games,” noted the 24-year-old.

“The Scottish team had more possession, especially in the first half. In the second it was more even from the 70th minute onwards. Nevertheless, we had more chances. I do not think we did not deserve the result,” said head coach Marco Rossi. “I would have been very disappointed if we had gone home without any points. We may go home with three points, but at least we have three points.”

His colleague Steve Clarke felt his team gave it their all, there was no problem with the effort. “We played a very good rival. (…) We opened up at the end and unfortunately we did not go through. There was no difference between the two teams,” concluded Clarke.

Hungary’s national football team have clinched third place in Group A of the European Championship, and their progress will be decided on Tuesday or Wednesday.

In addition to the top two, the top four out of six third-placed teams at the end of the group stage will progress to the last eight.

The current standings:
1. Austria (D  Group) 3 points/2 games
2. Slovakia (E) 3/2
3. Hungary (A) 3/3
4. Slovenia (C) 2/2
5. Albania (B) 1/2
6. Czech Republic (F) 1/2

Via MTI, ; Featured image via MTI/Koszticsák Szilárd