Euro 2016 Report: Austria 0 - 2 Hungary

 

Austria hit the post in the first minute. David Alaba’s curling left footed effort beat the despairing dive of Hungarian netminder Gabor Kiraly but rebounded off the right hand upright after just 31 seconds. Continuing a bright start to the game, Hungary’s Laszlo Kleinheiser was on target with a weak left footed shot on four minutes but his effort was easily saved by Austrian 'keeper Robert Almer.

 

Marko Arnautovic set up Alaba for his second close shave on ten minutes but the veteran Kiraly saved the Bayern Munich star’s close range shot. A speculative long range effort from Zoltan Gera posed no problems for Almer. With some neat passing, underdogs Hungary had the better of the exchanges in the opening quarter without really threatening in the final third.

 

Hungary’s Adam Szalai headed well wide from a left wing free kick. Almost immediately, Kiraly made a superb stop from Zlatko Junuzovic’s right foot shot from the edge of the box.  The resulting corner offered up an opportunity for Martin Hinteregger but the defender was unable to hit the target. A touch of play-acting by Arnautovic upset the Hungarians.

 

Brilliant interplay between Arnautovic and Junuzovic set up an Austrian opening but Arnautovic’s cross from the left was slightly overhit and Martin Harnik miscued his shot. Zlatko Junuzovic's right footed shot from outside the box was saved in the bottom right corner after he latched onto a Marc Janko header. Austria ended the first half on top. However, Kleinheiser’s through ball set up Balazas Dzsudzsak late in the half, but the latter pulled his shot well wide of the left hand post.

 

Alaba placed Janko just after halftime but the tall striker’s drive finished well wide. 37 year old Gera again tried his luck from long range but his ambitious shot didn’t trouble Almer. A poor cross by Arnautovic frustrated the Austrian bench. Almer did have to fist Dzsudzsak’s well struck left footed 35 yarder over his own bar.  

 

The breakthrough eventually came on 61 minutes. A slick one two between Kleinheiser and Szalai split the Austrian cover and Szalai slid the ball home for a deserved Hungarian lead. It was the Hannover forward’s first goal for club or country in 18 months (over 50 games).

 

Hinteregger had the ball in the net for Austria shortly afterwards but the whistle had already blown for a bad challenge. That challenge resulted in a red card for Alexander Dragovic. The Austrian defender was sent off for a second yellow card for a high tackle on Hungarian Tomas Kadar. Dragovic had been booked in the opening half for a foul on Szalai (which was probably milked a little by the Hungarian).

 

The Austrians claimed a penalty for hand ball in the box but the French referee rightly waved them away.  

 

It could have been two-up for Hungary but Adam Lang blazed over from the edge of the box. Nemeth hammered another shot goalwards. Almer saved superbly, diving to his left.

 

A bad challenge by Christian Fuchs on Attila Fiola went unpunished. Then Adam Nagy flew in late in retribution on the touchline, fortunately without making much contact

 

With three minutes left, the Austrians played a weak free kick in the Hungary half, which led to a Hungary breakaway. Tamas Priskin picked-up Kadar’s clearing header and threaded a 40-yard cross field pass behind the Austrian defence. A sublime right footed chip by substitute Zoltan Stieber sparked wild Hungarian celebrations.

 

Austria were favourites beforehand but Hungary’s clinical performance brushed their near neighbours aside. The quality of the Hungarian's passing, defending and, ultimately, finishing ensured an impressive win. Coach Bernd Storck seemed to win the tactical battle hands down.

 

Austria travelled to France full of confidence after they won nine out of 10 matches in an unbeaten qualifying campaign. However, Alaba's early effort aside, they struggled to live up to the expectation as key offensive players Junuzovic, Arnautovic and Janko were comfortably marshalled by the Hungary defence.

 

An early injury to Junozovic eventually led to the set piece specialist’s withdrawal before the hour mark. The playmaker claimed 10 assists in the Bundesliga for Werder Bremen last season. He offered little here and may now miss the next game of this tournament.

 

Kiraly ensured his cleansheet when he saved Arnautovic’s injury time shot. The 40-year-old custodian had become the oldest player to play in the European Championships.

 

44 years to the day after Hungary’s last European Championship outing (a semi-final defeat to Russia), the magical Magyars could celebrate a richly deserved victory. Austrian coach Marcel Koller has much to ponder.

 

 

Austria: David Almer; Florian Klein, Alexander Dragovic, Martin Hinteregger, Christian Fuchs; David Alaba, Julian Baumgartlinger, Martin Harnik (Alessando Schopf, 77), Zlatko Junuzovic (Marcel Sabitzer, 59), Marko Arnautovic; Marc Janko (Rubin Okotie, 65).

Subs not used: Heinz Lindner (gk), Ramazan Ozcan (gk), Marcus Suttner, Sebastian Prodl, Kevin Wimmer, Gyorgy Garics, Stefan Ilshanker, Jakob Jantscher, Lucas Hinterseer.

Booked: Alexander Dragovic (32, 65).

Sent off: Alexander Dragovic (65).

 

Hungary: Gabor Kiraly; Attila Fiola, Richard Guzmics, Adam Lang, Tomas Kadar; Zoltan Gera, Krisztian Nemeth (Adam Pinter, 89), Adam Nagy, Laszlo Kleinheisler (Zoltan Stieber, 79), Balazas Dzsudzsak; Adam Szalai (Tamas Priskin, 68).

Subs not used: Denes Dibusz (gk), Peter Gulacsi (gk), Barnabas Bese, Roland Juhasz. Mihail Korhut, Akos Elek, Gergo Lovrencsics, Daniel Bode, Nemanja Nikolic.

Booked: Krisztian Nemeth (79).

 

 

Referee: Clément Turpin Clément Turpin (France).

Attendance: 34,424.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Laszlo Kleinheisler (Hungary).