Marco Rossi’s team wins at the last second and condemns Clarke’s team: Hungarians third with 3 points, round of 16 difficult but possible
In Stuttgart, Scotland and Hungary they compete on the third and decisive day of group A Of Euro 2024: the chance to continue dreaming of progressing to the round of 16 is up for grabs. It all happens in injury time, when Csoboth find at 100′ the goal which allows the Hungarians to win, close to third place in the group (with 3 points) and still hope for a difficult, but possible, passage to the next round. Scots last ed eliminated from the European Championship.
THE MATCH
The first ring of the match was signed by Bolla: after eight minutes the Hungarian unleashed a good shot from outside the area, but his shot crashed into the wall erected by Gunn. Scotland then takes control of the match, trying to impose their rhythm through the dribble: Hungary plays from a throw-in, in an attempt to find a winning restart. McGinn is among the most enterprising and in the first half hour of the match he directs the Tartan Army’s operations on the pitch. Hungary improves as the minutes pass and in the 34th minute it is Sallai who comes back to knock from long range: his aim, however, is not the best, with the conclusion going directly into the stands. Five minutes pass and, following a free kick taken by Szoboszlai, Orban chipped the crossbar: the Leipzig defender seemed to have started offside, however. In the second half the tone of the match rises and Scotland finds its first shot of the evening: Che Adams tries from outside the area, but his right-footed shot soars over Gulacsi’s goal. Hungary also tries: in the 64th minute Bolla draws a nice cross from the right, but Dardai hits it between the shoulder and head, wasting a potentially good opportunity. Twenty minutes from the end there are moments of great apprehension: Varga remains on the ground after a clash in the area and all his teammates loudly call for the rescuers to intervene. The game stops and the Hungarian striker is carried off the pitch on a stretcher, without ever being seen in close-up. The match resumes and in the 79th minute Scotland asks for a penalty: as soon as he enters, Armstrong is touched on the calf by Orban and falls. The referee has no doubts: the contact is not enough to award a penalty. The injury time (10) are the most exciting of the match. Szoboszlai forces Gunn into a providential save, while Csoboth hits a sensational post. On the other hand, it was Gulacsi who outdid himself following a great conclusion from Hanley. The match goal came in the 100th minute, when Csoboth scored the winning goal for Hungary on the counterattack. The Hungarians close group A in third place (3 points) and are still hoping to progress to the next round. Scots eliminated (with only 1 point).
REPORT CARDS
McGinn 6.5 – As long as he is on the pitch he is the most active of his team, the one who always tries no matter what. He puts the Tartan Army on his shoulders and tries to drag it, while Flower of Scotland echoes in the stands of the Stuttgart stadium.
McTominay 5 – No goals, no noteworthy actions. When he wears the Scotland shirt, he usually transforms into a true leader. Not this evening.
Szoboszlai 6.5 – His teammates often look for him, aware that he is the talent who can come up with a decisive play at any moment. He comes close in the finale, but he gets a great response from Gunn.
Csoboth 7 – He comes in when the game is about to end and that’s enough for him to be the man of the evening: first he hits a post, then he scores the winning goal. Providential.
THE SCORESHEET
SCOTLAND-HUNGARY 0-1
Scotland (3-4-2-1): Gunn 6; Hendry 6, Hanley 5.5, McKenna 6; Ralston 6 (38′ st Christie sv), Gilmour 5.5 (37′ st McLean sv), McGregor 5.5, Robertson 5 (45′ st Morgan sv); McTominay 5, McGinn 6.5 (32′ st Armstrong 6); Adams 5 (32′ st Shankland 6). Available: Kelly, Clark, Cooper, Conway, Jack, McCrorie, Taylor, Forrest. All.: Clarke
Hungary (3-4-2-1): Gulacsi 6.5; Botka 5.5, Orban 6, Dardai 6 (29′ st Szalai 6); Bolla 6 (41′ Zs. Nagy sv), Styles 5 (15′ st A. Nagy 6), Schafer 5, Kerkez 5.5 (41′ Csoboth 7); Sallai 6, Szoboszlai 6.5; Varga 5 (29′ st Adam 6). Available: Dibusz, Szappanos, Lang, Balogh, Fiola, Nego, Kleinheisler, Gazdag, Horvath, Kata. All.: Rossi
Referee: Tello (Argentina)
Scorers: 55′ st Csoboth (U)
Booked: Styles (U), Orban (U), Schafer (U), McTominay (S), Csoboth (U)
Notes: Kleinheisler (U) booked by the bench
