Northern Ireland head into Tuesday’s final Nations League match against Hungary at the Puskas Arena knowing that a draw will secure automatic promotion into League A for the first time, though Shea Charles insists there is no point in playing for a stalemate.
Both nations have secured a top-two finish in the group, but top spot is the sole ticket to automatic promotion. Northern Ireland sit first in the standings with 11 points after beating Ukraine 1-0 on Saturday, while Hungary trail by a single point in second place following a 2-0 victory against Georgia secured by an own goal from Lasha Dvali.
The sides previously played out a goalless draw on September 29. In that meeting, cautions arrived at the 16th minute when Ethan Galbraith was booked, followed by Isaac Price entering the book at 31 minutes. Hungary made the first change at 34 minutes, sending on Attila Osvath to replace Bendeguz Bolla. Aron Csongvai received a yellow card at 42 minutes, with Willi Orban cautioned at 45 minutes and Northern Ireland’s Jamie Donley booked in stoppage time at 45+2 minutes as the sides reached half-time scoreless with three Northern Ireland cautions and two for Hungary.
Second-half changes failed to break the deadlock as Hungary made two alterations at 55 minutes, introducing Alex Toth for Tamas Szucs and Donat Barany for Gabor Jurek. Northern Ireland responded with a double change at 70 minutes, sending on Brodie Spencer to replace Donley and Dion Charles to replace Patrick Kelly.
The visitors made further use of their bench by bringing on Milan Vitalis for Csongvai at 76 minutes and Milan Laszlo Toth for Daniel Lukacs at 77 minutes, before Shea Charles was booked at 78 minutes and Josh Magennis replaced Price at 88 minutes.
Head coach Michael O'Neill must manage key absences for the trip to Budapest. Forward Jamie Donley led the line against Ukraine but picked up a yellow card that rules him out of Tuesday’s fixture, while Hungary will be without the suspended Milan Vitalis and Willi Orban.
Midfielder Shea Charles became the youngest player to reach 40 senior caps for Northern Ireland during the win over Ukraine, breaking the record previously held by David McCreery. Charles’s transfer from Southampton to Fulham for a £30m fee earlier this year made him the most expensive Northern Ireland player ever, according to The Irish News.
“It’s helped me so much. Even from the very start, my first professional game was here, so even then it was adjusting to men’s football, and then helping me adjust to Premier League football by playing some of the best players in the world. I’m very thankful,” Charles told The Irish News regarding his international development.
“a really proud moment – and I've got the manager [Michael O'Neill] to thank for that,” midfielder Shea Charles told The Irish News regarding his international development.
“I've played in a lot of Northern Ireland teams where we've been very reactive to the opposition, trying to nullify them, but this is the type of group where we're able to overpower and overrun games and they'll have to think about us,” Magennis said, and Charles echoed Magennis's sentiments regarding their approach at the Puskas Arena despite needing only a point to confirm promotion.
“We know it’s going to be a challenge, and they’re a very good team. Big crowd, I assume. It’ll be tough but I think we’ve got the quality to do it,” Charles told The Irish News.
Earlier coverage: Northern Ireland Squad Benefits From Strong Club Form Before Nations League Fixtures
