Northern Ireland were left frustrated by a 0-0 draw at home to Hungary in Group B2 of the Nations League, a match that looked there for the taking at Windsor Park. Michael O’Neill’s side produced a strong pressing display and created the better chances, with Patrick Kelly twice going close in the first half and Isaac Price denied late by Balazs Toth. Despite facing higher-ranked opposition, Northern Ireland looked the more assured team for long spells, while Hungary struggled to create meaningful opportunities until the closing stages, when Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai’s main contribution was energising the away crowd rather than unlocking the defence.
The result extends Northern Ireland’s impressive home form, with just one defeat in their last 10 games in Belfast, and it followed Friday’s last-gasp 1-0 win in Tbilisi. Kelly’s two first-half openings summed up the home side’s frustration: first he failed to lift a chip over Toth with the goal gaping, then he looped an off-balance effort onto the top of the crossbar after a long throw caused chaos in the Hungary box. Northern Ireland’s physical approach unsettled the visitors, and the game became increasingly scrappy, with referee Ricardo De Burgos issuing yellow cards to Shea Charles, Jamie Donley, Isaac Price and Ethan Galbraith, as well as O’Neill himself, during a heated first half that ended in confrontation.
After the break, Hungary improved and began to push forward more, but Northern Ireland’s defence held firm. Ruairi McConville made a crucial block from Willi Orban, and goalkeeper Pierce Charles saved from Alex Toth to preserve his fifth clean sheet in seven competitive appearances for his country. Hungary managed only one shot on target all night, underlining Northern Ireland’s resilience, though O’Neill will be disappointed his side could not convert their first-half superiority into the goal that would have made it a perfect start to the campaign. The major frustration, beyond the dropped points, will be the number of bookings that disrupted their rhythm and added tension to a night when Northern Ireland were left to reflect on what might have been.
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