Faroe Islands - Hungary 0-1 (0-1)
0-1 21' Ádám Szalai
"The best team lost today", were the words from Faroe Islands coach Last Olsen after tonight’s match where the Faroe Islands had 58 % of the possession and a 91% passing accuracy of 443 passes which is (probably and unofficially) unheard of for the Faroese team as they answered their critics in the best thinkable way after their dismal performance against Northern Ireland on Saturday. Although they didn’t win the game, they won back the hope which looked to have disappeared after the opening two matches against Finland and Northern Ireland.
Hallur Hansson went close for the Faroes with a shot from the edge in the 4th minute, but a superb one-handed save from the unbalanced Hungarian goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz denied the hosts a perfect start.
Hungary hardly created anything, but out of thin air they suddenly had a free kick on the edge of the penalty area after 20 minutes which Gunnar Nielsen just managed to divert around his post for a corner. It was just postponing the pain as Hungary scored from the corner after the initial Faroese clearance was knocked back to the unmarked Ádám Szalai at the far post.
Hungary were close a couple of times during the next 10 minutes, but denied by a couple of brilliant saves – one of them a double-save – from Gunnar Nielsen.
As the first half was drawing to a close, Hanson had another go from long rage, but his qualified finish was wide however.
Hungary were very tame in the second half, but as long as they were leading, they didn’t have to and were happy to soak up the pressure. Well, maybe pressure is not the right word, because although the Faroe Islands had a great majority of possession, they failed to create many real scoring opportunities and the Hungarian goalkeeper was never really tested.
Nielsen at the other hand was only tested once in the second half.