High on confidence after reaching a third successive Euros final, Marco Rossi’s Hungary should have taken an early lead against the Irish.
Playing in unusual territory at left-wingback, it was veteran Loïc Négo who the flurry of chances fell to.
But unfortunately for him, he finished like someone without a goal since August 2022, as he kneed tamely into Caoimhín Kelleher’s arms before blazing a later opportunity high and wide.
The Boys in Green failed to muster a shot of any kind until the 36th minute as they looked second best in almost every area.
However, they then took a surprise lead, with Adam Idah – fresh from scoring the winner in the Scottish Cup final – in the right place at the right time to nod home Will Smallbone’s pinpoint cross from the right.
The goal seemed to spark Hungary into life, and centre-back Ádám Lang stole in around the back within five minutes to smash home left-footed into the roof of the net, following a free-kick flick on.
A more pedestrian second half ensued, with Hungary in particular intent on keeping the ball without much purpose aside from Roland Sallai’s speculative strike from distance.
With both goalscorers withdrawn as part of wholesale changes for both sides, the game petered out with Ireland failing to fire a single shot.
For many fans this tie won’t live long in the memory, but miraculously the Irish ended up going home with victory right on the stroke of FT following a promising corner situation at the other end.
It was Callum Styles who made the mistake on the edge of the Ireland box, allowing substitute Troy Parrott to bound free and squeeze past Péter Gulácsi.
The result means Hungary’s 14 game unbeaten run is now over, somewhat denting the confidence in the run up to facing hosts Germany in UEFA Euro 2024’s difficult-looking Group A.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Will Smallbone (Republic of Ireland)
