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Denzel strikes at the death as Dutch rescue draw.

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The Netherlands struck late to rescue a 1-1 draw against Hungary in the UEFA Nations League (UNL) to end a run of nine straight head to head victories in this fixture for Ronald Koeman’s side.

The visitors immediately took control of the ball and tried to assert their authority on the game, but they were frustrated by a succession of fouls from the Hungarians as the game threatened to bubble over.

Despite the Netherland’s early dominance, it was the host came closest to opening the scoring with their first real attack of the game when Roland Sallai was found at the edge of the area from a corner, but his curling effort smacked the outside of the post.

Sallai continued to be a thorn in the side of the Dutch and pounced to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark. Zsolt Nagy showed his pace to break free on the left and his deep cross found the Galatasary forward all alone at the back post to lash home from close range.

A bizarre mix-up from a Hungary goal-kick allowed the Netherlands the chance of an indirect free-kick fro. 10 yards out just before the break, but Cody Gakpo was denied as his powerful effort couldn’t find its way through the mass of Hungarian bodies on the galling.

Ronald Koeman’s needed an improvement after the break, and the Oranje responded by increasing the tempo after the break as they looked to force an equaliser, but Denzel Dumfries’ cross just evaded the outstretched leg of Joshua Zirkzee for what would have been a tap-in.

Substitute Brian Brobbey had a great chance to level with 10 minutes to go after Virjil van Dijk picked up to two quick-fire bookings and was duly sent off as the Datch started to lose their discipline. Despite that, the visitors did find an equaliser on 83rd minute when Dumfries showed great desire to thump home a header from Gakpo’s free-kick to silence the crowd.

The draw leaves Hungary in third in Group A3, same points behind Netherland’s who trail Germany by two points at the summit, denting the Oranje’s chances of topping their UNL group for the third time in four editions.

 

 

 

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