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The game was marred by fighting in the stands between Hungary
fans and baton-wielding police just after kickoff, with riot
police entering the fray as visiting supporters forced stewards
and police back down a tunnel.
On the pitch, the visitors went ahead with a Roland Sallai
penalty in the 24th minute after England's Luke Shaw caught a
stooping Loci Nego in the head as he attempted a clearance.
England equalised after 37 minutes when a Phil Foden free kick
was flicked on by Tyrone Mings and the ball was turned in by
John Stones from close range.
The centre back came close to a second when he headed a corner
just wide after an hour while Harry Kane miskicked when well
placed in front of goal - the captain's last contribution before
being replaced by Tammy Abraham for the last 15 minutes.
That, and other changes, failed to swing the game England's way
as Gareth Southgate's experiment of playing Foden, Jack Grealish
and Mason Mount together in a miniature midfield proved
something of a failure.
Hungary were certainly more energetic and looked more motivated
than when they were swept aside 4-0 by England in Budapest last
month and Southgate was quick to praise them, while accepting
his own side's shortcomings.
TACTICAL PROBLEM
"Hungary, full credit to them. I thought they caused us a
tactical problem. We weren’t fluid and I didn’t think we played
at the level that we need to play," he said.
"We’ll go away and think about the balance of the team a little
bit but I think individually we can do better as well. We made
lots of simple mistakes with the ball. Collectively we did not
play at the level we need to.
"I think right across the board from the start we weren’t sharp
with our play, gave the ball away. It’s the first time for a
long time but we have to hold our hands up to that."
The result leaves England top of the group on 20 points ahead of
Poland, who beat Albania (15 points) 1-0 away in another match
hit by crowd trouble.
Euro 2020 runners-up England are still strong favourites to win
the group via their remaining games against Albania and San
Marino next month, but have left themselves with work to do.
Hungary, in fourth place on 11 points, need a miracle to have a
chance of snatching second place and a playoff berth.
Their entire squad and staff formed a centre circle huddle at
the end of the game, then stood in front of their supporters -
showing their better side after the unpleasant scenes two hours
earlier - in a joint rendition of their national anthem,
celebrating together as if they had won the World Cup.
England’s players and most of the near-70,000 home fans had
already gone by then but though few will long remember the
match, it might prove more useful in Southgate's World Cup
preparations than if it had been a routine victory.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ken Ferris)
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