Sporting Kansas City defender Botond Barath (pictured top row center) started for the Hungary Men's National Team on Friday in the inaugural match at world-class Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. The center back logged 72 minutes in a 2-1 friendly defeat to South American giants Uruguay, collecting the 10th cap of his senior international career.
A festive atmosphere at the new, 67,889-seat stadium set the stage for an exciting matchup that produced all three goals inside the first 24 minutes. Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani fired the visitors ahead in the 15th minute and LAFC winger Brian Rodriguez doubled Uruguay's advantage shortly thereafter, but the hosts responded quickly as Adam Szalai pulled a goal back to make the score 2-1.
Barath, logging his seventh Hungary appearance since joining Sporting in late 2018, anchored the Magyars backline before exiting with 18 minutes left.
With a high-profile friendly match in the books, Hungary will now prepare for all-important UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying finale at Wales on Tuesday. Kickoff at Cardiff City Stadium is slated for 1:45 p.m. CT with live streams on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.
The Magyars currently occupy second place in Group E of Euro qualifying, two points behind leaders Croatia and two points head of third-place Slovakia, but Slovakia has played one match less. That game in hand will take place Saturday as the Slovaks visit Croatia.
The top two finishers in Group E will advance to the heralded UEFA European Championship next summer. Should Croatia win or draw versus Slovakia on Saturday, Hungary will face a win-and-in scenario against Wales on Tuesday. The Magyars recently competed at Euro 2016 in France, marking their first appearance at the tournament since 1972.
