Northern Ireland held by Hungary in goalless Windsor Park draw
Northern Ireland had to settle for a point after being held to a 0-0 draw by Hungary in their UEFA Nations League encounter at Windsor Park on Monday night.
Michael O’Neill’s young side produced an encouraging performance against the top seeds in League B Group 2 and enjoyed some of the better opportunities, but were unable to find the breakthrough in front of the Belfast crowd.
The result leaves Northern Ireland with four points from their opening two Nations League fixtures, following Friday night’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Georgia in Tbilisi.
Northern Ireland threaten in first half
Northern Ireland returned to Windsor Park for the first time in 315 days and began brightly, pressing Hungary high and forcing the visitors into mistakes.
Ethan Galbraith and Isaac Price were involved in some promising early attacks before Trai Hume fired narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Patrick Kelly then had two of Northern Ireland’s best opportunities of the first half.
Price played Kelly through shortly after the half-hour mark, but his attempted chip over Hungary goalkeeper Balázs Tóth did not have enough height.
Kelly went even closer later in the half when a long throw from Ciaron Brown was flicked on by Tom Atcheson. The ball eventually fell to Kelly, whose looping effort came back off the top of the crossbar.
Hungary kept quiet at Windsor Park
Hungary arrived in Belfast looking for a response after losing their opening Nations League fixture 1-0 at home to Ukraine.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai captained the visitors, but Northern Ireland largely succeeded in restricting the threat posed by Hungary’s highest-profile player.
The visitors began to offer more going forward after the interval, with András Schäfer having attempts at goal before Donát Bárány headed over from a corner.
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, continued searching for the goal their performance arguably deserved.
Price came close when he turned away from Milos Kerkez inside the area following a free-kick, only for Tóth to make the save at his near post.
Charles preserves clean sheet
Hungary threatened to snatch victory during the closing stages.
Ruairi McConville produced an important block to deny Willi Orbán from close range before Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles saved a powerful effort from substitute Alex Tóth.
Charles’ shutout was his fifth clean sheet in seven competitive appearances for Northern Ireland. Hungary were restricted to just one shot on target during the match.
The draw also means Northern Ireland have now lost only once in their last ten matches in Belfast.
Four points from opening two games
O’Neill made one change from the side which defeated Georgia on Friday, with Ruairi McConville replacing the injured Dan Ballard.
Northern Ireland started with Pierce Charles, Trai Hume, Tom Atcheson, Ruairi McConville, Ciaron Brown, Ethan Galbraith, Shea Charles, Justin Devenny, Patrick Kelly, Jamie Donley and Isaac Price.
It has been a positive opening to Northern Ireland’s return to League B, with the victory in Tbilisi now followed by a point against the group’s top seeds.
Attention quickly turns to the next challenge, with Northern Ireland travelling to face Ukraine on Friday 2 October, before returning to Windsor Park to take on Georgia on Monday 5 October.