Hungary vs Iceland a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
June 19, 2016
1,839 Views
- Iceland were minutes away from a historic first ever European Championship win but a Birkir Saevarsson Own Goal means that they had to make do with just a share of the points in this Group F encounter
- In a game where Hungary dominated possession but failed to break down the Icelandic defence it was Iceland who went in front just before half time
- Gabor Kiraly who was impressive in his showing against Austria in the opening game was erratic in his showing last night
- It was he who needlessly fumbled a cross and with the ball loose in the box it created all kinds of confusion
- Aron Gunnarsson was then sent to the ground by Janos Kadar inside the area and the referee awarded a spot kick
- Maybe it was a soft one but Gunnarsson was presented with the opportunity to go to ground and he made the most of it
- Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson kept his cool to send Kiraly the wrong way from the spot and put Iceland 1-0 going into the break
- The second half was much like the first with Hungary having the possession but failing to really do anything of note with it
- That’s why the own goal just three minutes from time was incredibly cruel
- It’s always gutting to concede a late goal but in these circumstances it is even worse
- Birkir Mar Saevarsson turned Nemanja Nikolic’s cross into his own net to hand Hungary a point.
- Heartbreak for Iceland and once again another dramatic late goal in the tournament
- But there was nearly one final twist in the tale
- Iceland were awarded a free kick and it looked the perfect range for Sigurdsson to curl it home
- Unfortunately his effort came straight back off the wall but it then found the evergreen Eidur Gudjohnsen
- He smashed the ball low and hard but it ended up agonisingly wide of the post after taking a touch off a sea of bodies
- So the two sides have to make do with a share of the points
- But Hungay top what is becoming the most unpredictable of groups
- A draw for them against Portugal would assure them qualification, even defeat could still see them safe
- As for Iceland it’s looking like they are now going to have to beat Austria to have any chance of making the Round of 16
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