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21:40 GMT, Wednesday, 19 November 2008

N Ireland 0-2 Hungary

By Lyle Jackson

Szabolcs Huszti of Hungary is brought down by David Healy

Northern Ireland produced a below-par performance and fell to defeat at home to Hungary in Wednesday's friendly at a wet and windy Windsor Park.

Sandor Torghelle scored the first goal on 57 minutes after Szabolcs Huszti had cut the ball back in the penalty area.

Then Fulham's Zoltan Gera latched on to a long ball to make it 2-0 with a fine strike in the 71st minute.

Northern Ireland's best chance was a David Healy header which was saved at close-range by Gabor Babos.

It was a frustrating night for Nigel Worthington's men.

They were without regular defenders Aaron Hughes, Gareth McAuley and George McCartney and to make matters worse Jonny Evans played most of the second half clearly carrying an ankle injury.

Hungary had the better of the few chances in a low-key first half with Torghelle and Huszti both sending efforts wide.

Northern Ireland boss Worthington made two changes at half-time, bringing on 21-year-old Partick Thistle goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey for his debut in place of Maik Taylor.

Warren Feeney was also given a run-out, coming on for Kyle Lafferty.

Northern Ireland almost took the lead in the 54th minute but goalkeeper Babos cleared Healy's effort with his legs.

A minute later Worthington handed Niall McGinn his debut with the Derry City winger replacing Michael Duff.

Hungary took the lead in the 57th minute after a surging run from Huszti. He clipped the ball back and Torghelle shot in from close range.

The Hungarians effectively sealed their deserved victory in the 71st minute when Gera shot low past Tuffey from the edge of the penalty area.


Northern Ireland: Taylor, Duff, Evans, Baird, McGivern, Gillespie, Clingan, O'Connor, Brunt, Lafferty, Healy.
Subs:Mannus, Tuffey, McGinn, Feeney, Shiels, Paterson, Thompson.

Hungary: Babos, Bodnar, Rudolf, Juhasz, Vanczak, Halmosi, Toth, Vadocz, Huszti, Gera, Torghelle.
Subs: Fulop, Vermes, Feczesin, Horvath, Dardai, Dzsudzsak, Szalai.

Referee: Robert Schoergenhofer (Austria)



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