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DROUGHT OVER

Austria 0 Hungary 2: Adam Szalai ends 18-month wait for goal before Zoltan Stieber adds brilliant second in opening win

Goal shy striker last scored a goal in December 2014 but produced the vital touch to beat 10 men of Austria

GOAL-SHY Adam Szalai ended his 18-month drought to score a crucial goal as Hungary beat Austria 2-0 in Bordeaux.

The striker last scored a goal in December 2014 but produced the vital touch to open the scoring, before substitute Zoltan Stieber produced a wonderful finish to score on the counter against 10 men.

Adam Szalai ended his 18-month wait for a goal as Hungary beat Austria
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Adam Szalai ended his 18-month wait for a goal as Hungary beat AustriaCredit: Reuters
Substitute Bernd Stieber produced a brilliant finish to seal the three points
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Substitute Bernd Stieber produced a brilliant finish to seal the three pointsCredit: EPA
Star defender Aleksandar Dragovic had earlier been sent off for two yellow cards
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Star defender Aleksandar Dragovic had earlier been sent off for two yellow cardsCredit: Getty Images
Austria had 14 shots at goal - but managed just three on target
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Austria had 14 shots at goal - but managed just three on target

Austria also saw star defender Aleksandar Dragovic sent off for two bookable offences in a nightmare performance in Bordeaux.

The Austrians had almost got off to the perfect start when Bayern Munich star David Alaba unleashed a ferocious shot after just 30 seconds.

The long-range effort beat former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly, but cannoned back off the post.

After a frantic start, Hungary soon settled down.

Adam Szalai had a great chance to open the scoring when he wriggled clear of his marker from a free-kick, but the striker got his header all wrong and it went well away from goal.

Austrian forward Zlatko Junuzovic then forced Kiraly - at 40 years, 75 days the oldest player ever to play in the Euros - into a superb save low to his left.

Hungary should have been in front just before half-time when captain Balazs Dzsudzsak broke clear on the right, but he dragged his shot badly wide.

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David Alaba almost opened the scoring - he hit the post after 30 seconds
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 David Alaba almost opened the scoring - he hit the post after 30 secondsCredit: EPA
Zlatko Junuzovic saw his effort brilliantly saved by Gabor Kiraly
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Zlatko Junuzovic saw his effort brilliantly saved by Gabor KiralyCredit: AP:Associated Press
Kiraly - at 40 years, 75 days - became the oldest player to ever play at the Euros
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Kiraly - at 40 years, 75 days - became the oldest player to ever play at the EurosCredit: Reuters
Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak should have done better with a chance in the first half
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Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak should have done better with a chance in the first halfCredit: EPA

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Dzsudzsak then went close again after a powerful left-footed strike was tipped over by Robert Almer
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Dzsudzsak then went close again after a powerful left-footed strike was tipped over by Robert AlmerCredit: Reuters
Szalai broke his 18 month duck after a neat one-two and calm finish
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Szalai broke his 18 month duck after a neat one-two and calm finishCredit: Reuters

Hungary contined to be the better side in the second half.

Bzsudzsak again went close when he cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful shot that Austrian goalkeeper Robert Almer had to tip over.

It didn't take much longer for the deadlock to be broken.

Szalai ended his 18 month wait for a goal after a brilliant piece of build-up play.

The striker brought down a long ball before a neat bit of interplay with Laszlo Kleinheisler, who played a perfect one-two for Szalai to apply the finish.

Austria pushed but their hopes were dashed when the highly rated defender Aleksandar Dragovic was sent off for picking up a second yellow card.

Despite being down to 10 men Austria continued to push for an equaliser, but were punished on the counter.

Substitute Zoltan Stieber dashed forward and produced a neat chip to kill the game and see Bernd Storck's team pick up three points.

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

AUSTRIA: Almer 6, Klein 7, Dragovic 4 Hinteregger 7, Fuchs 7, Alaba 7, Baumgartlinger 6, Arnautovic 6, Junuzovic 6 (Sabitzer 60, 6) , Harnik 5 (Schopf 78, 6) , Janko 6 (Okotie 65, 5)

SENT OFF
Dragovic

HUNGARY: Kiraly 7, Fiola 8, Guzmics 7, Lang 7, Kadar 8, Gera 7, Kleinheisler 7 (Stiber 79, 6), Nemeth 7 (Pinter 89, 6), Dzsudzsak 7, Nagy 7, Szalai 7 (Priskin 69, 6)

BOOKED
Nemeth

STAR MAN
Tamas Kadar

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