Euro 2020 Match 12: Draw Falls the Way of Hungary and Montenegro

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Euro 2020 Match 12: Hungary v Montenegro

Draw Falls the Way of Hungary and Montenegro

June 18, 2020

Hungary 2 Montenegro 2

 

Hungary drew with Montenegro on home soil in their opening match for Euro 2020.

 

Montenegro sought to have the run of play early and put the pressure on the Hungarians with an early goal. Nebojša Kosović won the ball deep in the 18-yard box after a poor clearance; his quick thinking saw the ball come off his boot and roll across the ground, hitting the right-hand post.

 

Much of the first half, though, was both sides working down the wings, with the defence to header away any crosses. Dominik Szoboszlai then managed to break for goal from the middle of the field, only for Montenegrin goalkeeper Danijel Petković to dive on the ball before the midfielder had a chance to direct it on goal.

 

Down the other end, Stefan Mugoša got onto a through ball beyond the steely Hungarian defence, and though he was at the tightest of angles, decided to fire at goal. The ball shaved the crossbar, before bobbling out of play.

 

Instead, Mugoša scored in the 41st minute with his head, after Fatos Bećiraj took on the defence down the left wing. His cross was perfect, as Mugoša hardly had to move, sending the crowd wild with his ruffle of the net.

 

However, Hungary quickly replied. Their teamwork down the left wing saw the ball eventually crossed to Gerg�' Lovrencsics, who was running outside the far post. He won the aerial challenge right near the line, cutting his header back to Ádám Szalai, whose volley whilst sliding caught Petković out of place, and the match was level again.

 

After the break, Bećiraj found himself alone in the box from a free kick. The awkward chest down made him fire at goal on the half volley, only for Péter Gulácsi to make a diving save.

 

Hungary, down the other end, worked down both wings, though the left deemed more productive. From a corner clearance, left back Tamás Kádár had a shot, only to just miss the goal by a mild margin. From the resulting corner, Szalai rose above the rest, and his header fell in the arms of Petković.

 

In the 62nd minute, Szoboszlai had a shot blocked, as did Lovrencsics in the next attack, before Szalai was declared offside when the ball eventually made its way to him.

 

Nine minutes later, Player of the Match Szalai and Balázs Dzsudzsák combined with a one-two, where the former sent a low cross to right on front of goal after receiving the ball from the latter. Dzsudzsák’s left footer hit the underside of Petković’s knee as he dived to save the ball, only it was not enough to stop the ball crossing the line.

 

Hungary looked like scoring another goal, as they ran rings around the defence along right midfield. Instead, Montenegro caught out a sleepy Hungary defence as Mugoša scored against the run of play. Substitute Mirko Ivanić crossed from just inside the box perfectly, and Mugoša sent the volley into the back of the net.

 

István Kovács thought he had the winner for Hungary in the 86th minute, only to be deemed offside from the cross from the left wing. Another offside saw out the match, and the score finalised at 2-2.