Hungary and Romania draw a blank in Budapest
Friday, September 4, 2015
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Hungary 0-0 Romania
Neighbours Hungary and Romania cancelled each other out in Budapest, with the visitors slipping to second in Group F after this stalemate.
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- Goalless draw keeps both teams in contention for qualification from Group F
- Gabriel Torje nearly wins it for Romania late on but low shot is palmed away
- Hungary’s Ádám Szalai also goes close with first-half volley in game of few chances
- Romania's Alexandru Chipciu misses next match due to suspension
- Next games: Northern Ireland v Hungary, Romania v Greece (7 September)
Hungary and Romania shared a goalless draw in Budapest which keeps both teams in contention for UEFA EURO 2016 qualification but both will go away feeling they could have snatched victory.
It was a fabulously intense atmosphere which welcomed the two traditional rivals onto the pitch. Hungary lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Ádám Szalai the spearhead up front while Romania went with a 4-2-3-1 as they looked to maintain top spot in Group F.
Claudiu Keșerü and Balázs Dzsudzsák had the first opportunities but their free-kicks both missed the target. Keșerü then fashioned another chance yet his effort was saved low by Gábor Király.
Romania were dominating territory with Hungary content to counterattack, Nemanja Nikolić shooting over and Szalai seeing his superb long-range volley tipped around the post by Ciprian Tătăruşanu as the hosts sought to snatch a lead.
It remained goalless though, Zoltán Stieber – with nearly the whole goal to aim at – missing an early second-half opportunity when Tătăruşanu dealt comfortably with his low strike.
In truth both sides struggled to create chances although Gabriel Torje and Keșerü nearly won it for the visitors late on. Hungary now travel to new group leaders Northern Ireland for their match on Monday while Romania prepare for a home assignment against Greece the same evening.