Szoboszlai Stars as Hungary Qualify for Euro 2024
Hungary’s fine vein of form continued as captain Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a stellar performance against Bulgaria in a 2-2 draw that secured their place in the finals of Euro 2024.
The match, held behind closed doors due to fan protests against the Bulgarian Football Union, saw Szoboszlai showcase his leadership qualities in his 11th game as Hungary’s captain, with his side remaining unbeaten since his appointment in 2022.
With Hungary trailing 2-1 in the dying minutes of the game it appeared that good run was set to come to an end, but Szoboszlai played a pivotal role with his second assist of the game which proved decisive in their qualification.
His first assist came in the 10th minute, delivering a precise free-kick from the right-hand side of the box for Martin Adam to head home, earning Hungary an early lead. Bulgaria responded with a goal midway through the half, setting the stage for a challenging encounter.
Both teams received red cards before the next goal, with Valentin Antov dismissed for Bulgaria and Milos Kerkez for Hungary. The home side took the lead with a penalty from Kiril Despedov, putting Hungary on the brink of a frustrating defeat.
However, in the 97th minute, Aleks Petkov inadvertently headed Szoboszlai’s free-kick into his own net, salvaging a crucial point for Hungary which guarantees at least a second-place finish in Group G and secures qualification.
With qualification in the bag Hungary face Montenegro in the final game of the group on Sunday, as they seek to see out qualification as group winners.
