Adam Lang and Patrizio Stronati in the fight between Hungary and the Czech Republic Source: Profimedia
BUDAPEST – The Czech footballers ended the September meeting with a 1:1 draw in the preparatory meeting in Hungary. Roland Sallai gave the home side the lead in the 52nd minute in the match between their neighbors in the FIFA rankings, but Václav Jurečka equalized nine minutes later with his first goal in the national team. With a 1:1 result, the two teams also broke up in the previous match in August 2013.
Coach Jaroslav Šilhavy’s men played 1:1 for the second time in a row, on Thursday they drew at home with Albania in the European Championship qualifiers. The national team of the Czech Republic continues to lead its group, the next match will be on October 12 in Albania.
Both the Czechs and the Hungarians maintained their invincibility this year. Italian coach Marco Rossi’s men, who managed to unexpectedly win in England and Germany last year in the League of Nations, have not lost eight games since last September. Šilhávé’s selection did not find a winner in six consecutive duels.
The Czech coach immediately made nine changes in the starting line-up compared to the meeting with Albania, only captain Souček and defender Brabec remained in the starting eleven. The Czechs again came out with three stoppers, one of them was Stronati, who works for the Hungarian club Puskás Akadémia. Staněk started between the posts, in the offensive this time Jurečka, Hložek and the tip Chytil got a chance.
The meeting in Puskás Arena, where the national team defeated the Netherlands 2:0 in the round of 16 of the European Championship last year, was played in a great atmosphere in front of more than 50,000 spectators. The guests attacked relatively high in the beginning, but the Hungarians created the first big chance. The home team combined in the penalty area with several quick passes before Staňek caught Sallai in the 10th minute.
On the opposite side, he headed in a good position just into the middle of the Stronati goal, and the Croatian referee whistled for a foul. In the 25th minute, Hložek found Chytila in the box, but his shot missed and Dibusz scored without much difficulty.
The Hungarians were more dangerous in the opening act, who lead their European qualification group after Thursday’s victory in Serbia. In the 35th minute, Staněk sent Szalai’s long-range shot into the corner. From it, the home team played an imaginative signal, which after Kalmár’s shot on the ground ended with an unsuccessful header over Sallai from close range.
Seven minutes after the break, the Hungarians were already in the lead. After a quick throw-in, Kerkez collided with Varga, sent a low cross from the left side, and the active Sallai beat Staňek from close range, although the Czech goalkeeper reached for the ball.
The Czechs equalized relatively quickly. In the 63rd minute, Khtil pushed past the defender, managed to head the ball in front of the running goalkeeper to his teammate from Slavia Jurečka, and it was no longer a problem for him to send the ball into the abandoned goal. The top scorer of the last season of the Czech league, who is struggling this year, scored for the first time in the national team.
The home team tried to take back the lead. In the 79th minute, Liverpool’s offensive all-rounder Szoboszlai took a direct kick from a good position, but missed by a bit. The next bigger chance was not to be seen in the rather nervous finish.
preparatory match:
Budapest
Hungary – Czech Republic 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: 52. Sallai – 63. Jurečka
Author: © List Source: CTK
2023-09-10 18:11:37
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