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Northern Ireland national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Sep 7, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Hungary national football team

1-1

Lafferty (93')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Guzmics (74')

Kyle Lafferty snatches late draw for Northern Ireland against Hungary

Kyle Lafferty's 94th-minute goal gives 10-man Northern Ireland a 1-1 draw against Hungary in their Euro 2016 qualifier at Windsor Park.

Kyle Lafferty's 94th-minute goal has given 10-man Northern Ireland a 1-1 draw against Hungary in their Euro 2016 Group F qualifier at Windsor Park, a result that keeps Michael O'Neill's side top of the group but still not through to next year's finals in France.

Kyle Lafferty (R) of Northern Ireland and Richard Guzmics (L) of Hungary in action during the Euro 2016 Group F qualifying match at Windsor Park on September 7, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.© Getty Images

Balazs Dzsudzsak was responsible for the first concrete chance of the game as his effort from 20 yards whizzed just wide of the right post.

The hosts, however, countered through Chris Brunt as his free kick from just outside the box soared into danger but was smartly plucked out of the air by Gabor Kiraly.

Oliver Norwood was next to challenge the Hungary goalkeeper through another set piece, but the 25th-minute free kick from long range was confidently thwarted by the ex-Crystal Palace stopper.

Hungary remained tight at the back despite Northern Ireland finding their feet as the match went on, and the first half ended with both sides all square.

Northern Ireland were quickest off the starting blocks after the restart as Gareth McAuley leapt above the defence near the penalty spot and sent a header goalwards from a free kick, but Kiraly was equal to it.

The visitors then countered through Zoltan Gera, who displayed good awareness near the penalty spot to get on the end of a cross from the free kick, but this sailed wide of the post.

Hungary's defender Richard Guzmics (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal of the Euro 2016 qualifying group F football match between Northern Ireland and Hungary at Windsor Park in Belfast on September 7, 2015.© Getty Images

Bernd Storck's charges enjoyed a dangerous spell but the pendulum swung the hosts' way as Jonny Evans headed just over the bar five minutes before the hour, before Norwood's long-range drive two minutes later was saved.

Gera then fashioned a dangerous chance in the 67th minute when he collected a pinpoint pass and lashed a ferocious drive from long range which edged just wide of the left post.

Hungary's increased pressure soon paid dividends for the visitors 74 minutes in when goalkeeper Michael McGovern miscued a clearance to gift the ball to Richard Guzmics, who had the simple task of bundling the ball home from close range.

It went from bad to worse for Northern Ireland when Chris Baird was shown two yellow cards in the space of a minute for two challenges in quick succession late on, reducing the hosts to 10 men.

However, there was to be solace and relief for the Windsor Park outfit when Lafferty stabbed the ball into the back of the net from a corner to level the scores right at the death.

The result keeps the Green and White Army at the top of Group F on 17 points as second-placed Romania stuttered to a goalless draw against bottom side Greece, while Hungary remain third.

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Kyle Lafferty (R) of Northern Ireland and Richard Guzmics (L) of Hungary in action during the Euro 2016 Group F qualifying match at Windsor Park on September 7, 2015 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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