English Section

Football: Poland draw 3-3 with Hungary in opening 2022 World Cup qualifier

26.03.2021 00:01
Poland’s national football team opened its 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-3 away draw with Hungary in Budapest on Thursday.
Substitute striker Krzysztof Piątek (2nd from right) scores for Poland against Hungary on Thursday night.
Substitute striker Krzysztof Piątek (2nd from right) scores for Poland against Hungary on Thursday night. Photo: EPA/Zsolt Szigetvary

Roland Sallai opened the scoring for Hungary with a long-range shot after a sprint from midfield six minutes into the game at Puskás Aréna in the Hungarian capital.

Adam Szalai put Hungary 2-0 ahead in the 56th minute after a defence mix-up in the penalty area.

Substitute Krzysztof Piątek halved the deficit for Poland after a scramble in the box in the 60th, and another substitute, Kamil Jóźwiak, equalized a minute later.

Willi Orban put the score at 3-2 in Hungary's favour in the 78th minute, but Poland hit back and drew level with a goal from star striker Robert Lewandowski in the 82nd.

Hungary ended the match reduced to 10 men after Attila Fiola was sent off for a foul in added time.

Poland captain Robert Lewandowski (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 3-3 equalizer in Budapest on Thursday, March 25, 2021. Poland captain Robert Lewandowski (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 3-3 equalizer in Budapest on Thursday, March 25, 2021. Photo: EPA/Zsolt Szigetvary

The Poles, captained by Lewandowski, had been looking for a convincing win, but had to settle for a hard-fought tie under their new Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa.

The match was played without spectators amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahead of the game, Poland's Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich tested positive for the coronavirus and was left out of the squad.

Poland are ranked 19th worldwide by football's governing body FIFA, while Hungary are No. 40 in the FIFA table.

The Polish team will now take on Andorra in its next World Cup qualifying fixture on home turf in Warsaw on Sunday.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP