Drama in Budapest Showdown
Late twist shatters home crowd hopes
A dramatic night unfolded at the Puskás Arena in Budapest as Hungary twice took the lead but fell 2–3 after Ireland completed a last-second comeback. With the victory, Ireland leapfrogged Hungary to secure second place in Group F and book a spot in the European World Cup playoffs. Fans following match trends on 12BET Malaysia witnessed one of the most emotional endings of the entire qualification stage.
Parrott Completes Hat Trick at 96th Minute
Heroic header seals historic turnaround
The craziest moment arrived in the final breath of stoppage time — the 96th minute. Troy Parrott rose high to head the ball into the net, completing his hat trick and sealing the 3–2 victory. With only seconds left before the whistle, over 60,000 Hungarian fans fell into stunned silence. Ireland now sit on 10 points, overtaking Hungary’s 8, a shift many bettors tracking odds via 12BET Malaysia did not expect.
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Hungary Take Early Command
Strong start fuels early confidence
Hungary looked dominant early on. In the 4th minute, captain Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a perfect cross from the right, and Dániel Lukács powered a header in to open the scoring.
Although Ireland equalized from the penalty spot through Parrott after Szoboszlai fouled in the box, Hungary stayed calm. In the 43rd minute, Barnabás Varga converted Milos Kerkez’s brilliant pass to restore a 2–1 lead — a moment that briefly reignited home hopes and was widely discussed on 12BET Malaysia match threads.
Ireland’s Substitution Changes Everything
Super sub shifts match momentum
The second half brought chaos. With injured winger Chiedozie Ogbene forced off, substitute Finn Azaz became the unexpected game changer. In the 80th minute, Azaz slipped a perfect through ball to Parrott, who unleashed a stunning long-range strike to make it 2–2.
Last Second Blow for Hungary
Playoff dreams collapse at home turf
Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Ireland delivered a crushing final blow. In stoppage time, Parrott connected with a pinpoint cross, overpowering defenders to complete the hat trick and seal the comeback.
As the whistle sounded, Hungarian players collapsed to the ground. Szoboszlai covered his face in tears, and several teammates remained motionless — the defeat was not only tactical but deeply psychological. Analysts on 12BET Malaysia called it one of the most painful collapses of the campaign.
Ireland’s Hope Lives On
Belief restored on road to World Cup
For Ireland, the victory becomes more than just three points — it is a revival of belief. Their quest to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2002 is still alive, powered by one of the most dramatic finishes in recent qualifying history.
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