Portugal 2-2 Hungary: Portugal denied at the death in thrilling World Cup qualifier versus Hungary in Lisbon | OneFootball

Portugal 2-2 Hungary: Portugal denied at the death in thrilling World Cup qualifier versus Hungary in Lisbon | OneFootball

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·14 October 2025

Portugal 2-2 Hungary: Portugal denied at the death in thrilling World Cup qualifier versus Hungary in Lisbon

Article image:Portugal 2-2 Hungary: Portugal denied at the death in thrilling World Cup qualifier versus Hungary in Lisbon

Portugal drew 2-2 against Hungary in an enthralling 2026 World Cup qualifier at Estádio José Alvalade.

The Magyars took the lead in the 8th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner sailed over Diogo Costa, Attila Szalai getting over Bernardo Silva and heading the ball into the net.


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Portugal equalised in the 22nd minute when Nélson Semedo drove towards the byline and crossed to Cristiano Ronaldo who converted from close range.

Roberto Martinez’s side equalised on the stroke of half-time when Nuno Mendes picked out Ronaldo with a pinpoint cross, the captain volleying into the bottom corner.

Rúben Dias and Bruno Fernandes hit the post within the space of a minute before João Félix saw a point-blank header saved by Balázs Tóth.

Szalai hit the post and appeared certain to convert the rebound before Dias made a vital clearance, but the Seleção continued to give up chances and paid the price in added time.

Loïc Nego drove past Nuno Tavares and got into the box, his cross threaded through to Szoboszlai who scored a dramatic equaliser in front of the travelling supporters.

Hungary take the lead

Cristiano Ronaldo fired the first chance over the bar before Roland Sallai’s shot was tipped wide by Diogo Costa. Hungary took the lead from the resulting corner in the 8th minute.

Dominik Szoboszlai sent the ball to the back post, Costa misjudging the flight of the ball which saw Attila Szalai tower over Bernardo Silva and head the ball into the net.

Ronaldo to the rescue

Portugal equalised in the 22nd minute. Vitinha gave the ball to Nélson Semedo who got around Szalai and sent a perfect cross into the six-yard box where Ronaldo couldn’t miss.

The Seleção started to turn the screw but Hungary showed they had come to Lisbon to play, Renato Veiga surviving a VAR intervention for an alleged handball. The Magyars went close from another corner, Szoboszlai picking out Loïc Nego who volleyed wide.

Barnabás Varga got into the box but couldn’t get a shot away before András Schäfer was replaced by Alex Tóth. Sallai hit Bendegúz Bolla’s cross straight at Costa but the tide turned back in Portugal’s favour.

Ronaldo headed over the bar but got another chance in added time, getting on the end of Nuno Mendes’ pinpoint cross and volleying into the bottom corner.

Portugal began the second half in the ascendancy but they were not able to pick out an unmarked Ronaldo on more than one occasion.

Seleção twice denied by woodwork

Marco Rossi brought on Dániel Lukács for Bendegúz Bolla in the 58th minute before an incredible 60 seconds of football.

Rúben Dias tried his luck from distance and hit the post, Bruno Fernandes then measuring a left footed strike that hit the same spot on the same post.

Roberto Martínez brought on João Palhinha, João Félix and Francisco Conceição for Rúben Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto, moving Bernardo Silva into midfield.

Two of the substitutes combined less than a minute later in what could have been the match clinching goal. Conceição’s cross fell perfectly for Félix who saw his point-blank header too close to Balázs Tóth who kept his side in the game.

Magyars fight back

The action continued at the other end where Hungary looked certain to equalise. Szalai headed Milos Kerkez’s cross off the post and was set to pull the trigger on the follow up, Dias heading the ball away from danger in the nick of time.

Vitinha went on a long run forward and went close before Martínez replaced Nuno Mendes and Ronaldo with Nuno Tavares and Gonçalo Ramos. Rossi introduced Márton Dárda and Milán Vitális for Kerkez and Callum Styles.

Szoboszlai scores

Costa slapped a corner away late on as it appeared Portugal would take all three points. It wasn’t to be, the visitors equalising in added time.

Lukács got around Tavares and sent a low cross into the box that evaded everyone except Szoboszlai, the skipper well positioned at the back post where he made no mistake.

Great game!

It was a fantastic game of football despite the disappointing result that prolongs Portugal’s wait for qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Rúben Dias and Nuno Mendes had strong performances and Vitinha produced another midfield masterclass.

Cristiano Ronaldo broke yet another record as he became the top scorer in World Cup qualifiers, overtaking Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz and moving six goals clear of Lionel Messi.

The contest was a classic case of small margins, Rúben Dias and Bruno Fernandes hitting the woodwork within a minute of each other which would have established a 3-1 lead. João Félix will be wondering how he didn’t head the ball anywhere other than straight at Balázs Tóth.

Portugal remain in a strong position to top Group F where they are five points clear of Hungary. They travel to Dublin in November and end the campaign against Armenia at Estádio do Dragão.

Defensive issues

Regardless of the luck that evaded Dias and Fernandes, Portugal’s defending left a lot to be desired. The first goal saw Diogo Costa misjudge the flight of the ball which was a flashback to the goal conceded against Morocco in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.

Costa can be excused considering how infrequent his errors are, but the decision to have Bernardo Silva marking Attila Szalai at the back post made absolutely no sense. Silva is one of Portugal’s shortest players at 1,73m, Szalai Hungary’s tallest at 1,92m, not to mention the physical mismatch.

Roberto Martínez’s side were carved open by Hungary’s crosses in both legs. Barnabás Varga’s two goals in Budapest came directly from crosses into the box.

Szalai’s opening goal in Lisbon came from a corner, and the centre-back should have scored again when he got onto the end of Milos Kerkez’s cross in the second half.

It wasn’t a surprise that Hungary’s equaliser came from another cross, but Nuno Tavares’ decision to allow Dániel Lukács to stroll to the byline highlights everything that is wrong with one-on-one defending in the modern game. How about attempting to make a tackle?

There is plenty for Martínez to ponder before the next international break. There is no doubt he and his analysts will be busy breaking down the games against Hungary and attempting to find solutions, but it’s unlikely that Ireland or Armenia are going be able to pose the same problems.

Portugal: Diogo Costa, Nélson Semedo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes (Nuno Tavares, 78’), Rúben Neves (João Palhinha, 62’), Bruno Fernandes (Francisco Conceição, 62’), Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo (Gonçalo Ramos, 78’), Pedro Neto (João Félix, 62’)

Unused substitutes: José Sá, Rui Silva, António Silva, Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Pedro Gonçalves, Francisco Trincão,

Hungary: Balázs Tóth, Loïc Nego, Willi Orbán, Attila Szalai, Milos Kerkez (Márton Dárdai, 79’), András Schäfer (Alex Tóth, 38’), Callum Styles (Milán Vitális, 79’), Bendegúz Bolla (Dániel Lukács, 58’), Dominik Szoboszlai, Roland Sallai, Barnabás Varga

Unused substitutes: Péter Szappanos, Patrik Demjén, Attila Osváth, Áron Csongvai, Attila Mocsi, Bence Otvos, Zsombor Gruber, Rajmund Molnár

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