Match ends, Hungary 1, Northern Ireland 2.
HungaryHungary1Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland2
- All three goals scored in the last 15 minutes
- Former Watford striker Priskin put Hungary ahead
- Two goals in seven minutes by McGinn and Lafferty
Northern Ireland snatched a first away win in four years as they began their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a priceless victory over Hungary.
Tamas Priskin forced in a close-range header from a corner 15 minutes from time to edge Hungary in front.
But sub Niall McGinn levelled and Kyle Lafferty claimed the winner in the 88th minute, although the last touch may have been off a defender.
It was their first away win in 18 matches.
Northern Ireland's last victory on the road was a 1-0 win over Slovenia in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier.
Boss Michael O'Neill will be relieved as it appeared an encouraging display in Budapest was to go unrewarded.
| Seventh heaven for Northern Ireland |
|---|
| On 7 September, 2005, David Healy scored as Northern Ireland beat England 1-0 in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup |
| This win in Hungary was Northern Ireland's first competitive away victory since September 2010, ending a run of nine games without a win |
| It was also the first time they have scored in five away internationals |
Before the match, Northern Ireland probably would have settled for a draw but, having seen Hungary's limitations during the match, O'Neill must have known the chance for victory was there for the taking.
This was the start of O'Neill's second qualifying campaign as NI manager and, having started the first by taking only one from a possible nine, he will be jubilant with this result.
Corry Evans should have given them the lead just before half-time but he skied over after Jamie Ward's effort had been parried by former Liverpool reserve team goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
As the second half wore on Hungary, regularly booed by home supporters, came into the game more and they looked set to take the points when former Watford striker Priskin headed home a 74th-minute corner from just a couple of yards out.
It seemed to be the same old story for Northern Ireland but two goals in the last 10 minutes turned the game on its head.
Front man Lafferty was instrumental in the equaliser, coming deep for the ball before charging forward.
He broke into the penalty area and passed across goal for McGinn to tap home unchallenged.
Even better was to come for the 1100 visiting supporters as Lafferty battled with a home defender to bundle in at the back post from McGinn's ball in.
The 88th-minute finish was hardly elegant but for Northern Ireland it could not have been sweeter.
Line-ups
Hungary
Formation 3-5-2
- 12Gulacsi
- 3VanczakBooked at 35mins
- 5Liptak
- 23Juhasz
- 15GyurcsoSubstituted forLovrencsicsat 59'minutes
- 8Varga
- 7Dzsudzsák
- 11Tozser
- 14Balogh
- 17NikolicSubstituted forPriskinat 45'minutes
- 10RudolfSubstituted forKovacsat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Bogdan
- 2Heffler
- 4Lang
- 6Korhut
- 9Lovrencsics
- 13Kalmar
- 16Varga
- 18Kovacs
- 19Priskin
- 20Zsidai
- 21Korcsmár
- 22Dibusz
Northern Ireland
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Carroll
- 2McLaughlin
- 4McAuleySubstituted forCathcartat 72'minutes
- 18Hughes
- 11Brunt
- 6Baird
- 13Evans
- 16NorwoodBooked at 44minsSubstituted forMckayat 79'minutes
- 8Davis
- 19WardSubstituted forMcGinnat 66'minutes
- 10Lafferty
Substitutes
- 3Lafferty
- 5Cathcart
- 7McGinn
- 9Mckay
- 12Mannus
- 14McCullough
- 15Grigg
- 17Ferguson
- 20Little
- 21Magennis
- 22Paton
- 23McGovern
- Referee:
- Deniz Aytekin
Match Stats
Home TeamHungaryAway TeamNorthern Ireland
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home9
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hungary 1, Northern Ireland 2.
Post update
Balázs Balogh (Hungary) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kyle Lafferty (Northern Ireland).
Post update
Attempt missed. Chris Baird (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Niall McGinn.
Goal!
Goal! Hungary 1, Northern Ireland 2. Kyle Lafferty (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Niall McGinn (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Brunt.
Post update
Foul by Tamas Priskin (Hungary).
Post update
Roy Carroll (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Balázs Dzsudzsák (Hungary) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by István Kovács.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Zoltan Liptak (Hungary) because of an injury.
Goal!
Goal! Hungary 1, Northern Ireland 1. Niall McGinn (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyle Lafferty.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tamas Priskin (Hungary) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gergö Lovrencsics.
Substitution
Substitution, Northern Ireland. Billy McKay replaces Oliver Norwood.
Post update
Tamas Priskin (Hungary) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Baird (Northern Ireland).
Goal!
Goal! Hungary 1, Northern Ireland 0. Tamas Priskin (Hungary) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Balázs Dzsudzsák with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Hungary. Conceded by Chris Brunt.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Gergö Lovrencsics (Hungary) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.