Sporting Kansas City striker Krisztian Nemeth played 90 minutes as the Hungary Men’s National Team earned a 1-0 victory over Norway in the first leg of their 2016 UEFA European Championship playoff series. Hungary will now return home for the decisive second leg on Sunday at Groupama Arena in Budapest.
Nemeth earned his 22nd cap for Hungary as the Magyars moved one step closer to their first European Championship berth since 1972. The 26-year-old forward did not record a shot on target, but was in the thick of the action in Hungary’s goal, earning the secondary assist on his team’s game-winning strike.
Playing in front of a packed Ullevaal Stadion crowd, Norway came out the aggressors and nearly jumped out a 1-0 lead. In the fourth minute, Per Ciljan Skjelbred burst through the Hungary defense and fired a shot on target. Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly quickly deflected the attempt over the bar for his first of seven saves on the evening.
Against the run of play, Hungary broke through in the 22nd minute with a goal that proved to be the eventual match winner. Nemeth took the ball on the right flank and played it off to Akos Elek. The Changchun Yatai FC midfielder collected the ball and calmly found Laszlo Kleinheisler in the penalty box. Kleinheisler wasted no time, ripping a left-footed strike off goalkeeper Orjan Nyland for his first international goal in his first international appearance.
Norway came close to equalizing in the 88th minute, but luck was not on their side. After Kiraly deflected Stefan Johansen’s low shot into the air, Pal Andre Helland was unable to convert the free header into an open net. His attempt ricocheted off the crossbar and away from danger.
Nemeth and his Hungarian teammates wore black armbands on Thursday in honor of goalkeeper Marton Fulop, the former Hungary national team goalkeeper who died on Thursday after a battle with cancer. Sunday's second leg will kick off at 1:45 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN. With a win or a draw, Hungary will advance to next summer's UEFA European Championship.
