Hungary did what was required, the Olympic chance depends on the Swedes
In the last round of the semi-final, the Hungarian national team entered the field for the first time, ours started the match. It was managed by Egon Hanusz, Gábor Ancsin and Richárd Bodó were the two forwards, Bence Bánhidi was in fullback, Pedro and Bóka were the two wingers. Instead of Hanusz, Adrián Sipos came in defense, and Roland Mikler in goal, still with a bandage on his hand.
By the end of the first five minutes, it was 5-2, as, in addition to Bodó’s huge bombs, Hanusz also contributed goals and assists. After ten minutes, the score changed to 8-5, there was not a great pace, Mikler also had some saves. At the end of the first quarter of an hour, the captain of the Cape Verdeans asked for time, because the Hungarian advantage was already 11-5.
In the 19th minute, Pedro completed an attack with a behind-the-back shot, making it 14-7. This seven-goal difference remained at the end of the half, the scoreboard showed 22-15. In this period, Miklós Rosta flashed, but Ilics also appeared with an accurate cross.
There was no need to worry about the game of the Hungarians after the turn, at the 40th minute it was 28-22, in these ten minutes Bóka took the team on his shoulders, and Márton Székely, who was substituted in the goal, presented himself with a feat.
In the 47th minute, the Hungarian national team took the lead for the first time with eight goals, then Bánhidi sold Bodó’s pass. The 35th Hungarian goal was scored by Adrián Sipos, it was the first time this World Cup was successful. The 42-30 victory came after Bóka Bendegúz’s eye-catching steal.
The Hungarian team: Mikler – Bóka 7, Bodó 7, Hanusz 6, Bánhidi 5, Ancsin 4, Pedro 3, substitutions: Sipos 1, Rosta 7, Ilics 1, Szita 1, Székely, Bujdosó
The Hungarian national team thus ended the semi-final with six points, but what this will be enough for will be revealed around 10 p.m., because that’s when the Sweden-Portugal match ends. If the Swedes, who are the big favorites but are expected to rest their best, win, then the Hungarians will take second place, and Chema Rodríguez’s national team will be interested in the final on Wednesday. If the Portuguese score at least one point, the Hungarian team is eliminated. By the way, Denmark or Egypt await this second-placed group among the eight, this match will already be held in Stockholm, as well as the final.
- Current group standings: 1. Sweden 8 points, 2. Hungary 6 points, 3. Portugal 5, 4. Iceland 4, 5. Brazil 3, 6. Cape Verde 0.
- Remaining matches: Iceland-Brazil (18:00), Sweden-Portugal (20:30)
“We did the job, we did what we had to do. We’re rooting for the Swedes from now on. Of course, it would be better if we had our fate in our own hands, but this is how it turned out, now we will need a little luck to progress. I hope we can stay a little longer, even though I’m still proud of the boys,” Chema Rodríguez told M4.