IRELAND manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said Ireland deserved all three points after coming from 2-0 down to draw with Hungary in their opening qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
The Boys in Green found themselves 2-0 down after just 15 minutes at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening, the eighth time they have conceded first in Hallgrimsson's nine competitive games in charge.
However, goals at the start and end of the second half from Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah, either side of Roland Sallai's sending off, ensured Ireland extended their unbeaten run to five games.
Adam Idah celebrates his late equaliser against Hungary (Image: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile via Getty Images)For many, the late equaliser after the disastrous start must have felt like a victory, but Hallgrimsson was disappointed not to be celebrating an actual win at the final whistle.
"We should not have only one point, I felt like we deserved all three points," he said in his post-match press conference.
He added: "We conceded two in the early stage so I'm unhappy with the first half but it's not easy to come back from 2-0 down at this level and especially against a team like Hungary.
"That's not easy, so I give all the credit to the guys for the second half, the character they showed, the bravery and all the effort they put in.
"I give them a lot of credit for the second half but I'm not happy with one point and that was kind of why I didn't celebrate as much as anyone else."
Early blow
Hallgrimsson's mood after the match was probably how the home fans felt two minutes into the game.
The pre-match optimism that a new qualifying campaign can bring — fuelled by more than two decades without an appearance at a World Cup — was snuffed out by Barnabás Varga's strike after just 112 seconds.
Sallai's cross into the box was headed well clear by Matt Doherty but after Finn Azaz failed to bring it under control, Callum Styles pounced on the loose ball and neatly whipped it back into the area.
After finding space between Dara O'Shea and Nathan Collins, Varga steered past Caoimhín Kelleher at his near post to silence the Dublin crowd.
Sallai then doubled the lead after 15 minutes, getting in front of a crowd of Irish players before rising unchallenged to meet Dominik Szoboszlai's corner and steering it across Kelleher into the net.
Varga and Sallai both went close to adding to the lead in the first half as a stunned Ireland failed to muster much of a response, although Ferguson almost pulled one back just before the break.
Evan Ferguson made it 2-1 early in the second half (Image: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile via Getty Images)The Roma striker chested down a long ball forward before holding off two Hungary defenders and getting a powerful shot away, forcing Denes Dibusz to dive to his right to parry the shot.
Fortunately for Ireland, Ferguson's determination was not dampened by the half-time whistle and he pulled one back for Ireland four minutes after the restart.
Dibusz probably should have done better with Ryan Manning's free kick into the area, the keeper's tame punch falling nicely for an unmarked Sammie Szmodzics to head back across goal before Ferguson bundled home at the far post.
Three minutes later, Ireland's cause was given fresh impetus with the dismissal of Sallai for an unnecessary, late challenge on O'Shea in the middle of the park.
Ireland continued to press, dominating possession and creating chances but looked like they would be thwarted in their bid to avoid defeat in the opening game of the campaign.
However, they got their equaliser in the third minute of injury time after a neat passage of play from substitutes Jack Taylor, Kasey McAteer and Mikey Johnston found Manning on the edge of the box.
The Southampton player had time to pick his spot and crossed for Adam Idah to head past Dibusz to claim the draw.
'Disappointed'
Despite his disappointment at not winning, Hallgrimsson felt it was important to deny Hungary three points in what promises to be a tricky group that also includes Portugal and Armenia.
Ireland face the latter in Yerevan on Tuesday in their second qualifier, which the manager believes has taken on even more significance after Saturday's stalemate.
"We definitely respect the point, every point in this group is vital," he said.
"It's one point for us but more importantly, not three points for Hungary."
He added: "Always if you don't win, the recovery takes a little bit longer and we need to recover quickly.
"Now the game in Armenia has even more importance than before.
"We've started now on recovery and the medical team is working really hard on them and will probably be into the night.
Hallgrimsson must now prepare his team for Tuesday’s qualifier in Armenia (Image: Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile via Getty Images)"Then we need to fly in the morning and tomorrow will be a travel day.
"At the same time, Armenia is resting at home so they will have a day advantage on us.
"It's more important than it was before.
"We said before this campaign that four points [from the first two games] would be OK.
"Our goal was six points and we are obviously disappointed not to have three in the bag."
Ireland face Armenia in their second World Cup qualifier at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium on Tuesday, kick-off 5pm (GMT+1).
The match will be shown on RTÉ2 in Ireland and on Amazon Prime PPV in Britain.
See More: Ireland, World Cup 2026
