A Dominik Szoboszlai penalty ended England's record 22-game unbeaten run as Gareth Southgate's aspect suffered a 1-0 loss to Hungary in their Nations League opener.
The Three Lions had now not misplaced due to the fact that 2020 out of doors of penalty shoot-outs – their excellent ever series – but left Budapest empty-handed of their first competitive in shape of a World Cup yr. The decisive aim got here from the spot after replacement Reece James became penalised for a trailing arm on Zsolt Nagy in the field, permitting Szoboszlai to attain 24 mins from time and earn Hungary's first win in opposition to England on account that 1962.
It changed into a result welcomed via round 35,000 fans in a at the back of-closed-doorways fit, as kids had been allowed to attend consistent with UEFA sanctions despite a stadium ban for racist behaviour at Euro 2020. And there had been audible boos from those in attendance as England took the knee in advance of kick-off, back in Budapest wherein their players have been the subject of abuse ultimate year.
That became the most wonderful incident for a long time in a drab come across, although Hungary came closest in the first 1/2 while Conor Coady changed into forced to clean Szoboszlai's low effort off the road. England showed little development after half of-time, no matter one strong run and shot from Bukayo Saka, and they were punished as James conceded the penalty and Hungary netted from the spot.
The impetus to rescue a end result belatedly fired the site visitors into action, with Jude Bellingham seeing a close-variety effort blocked and Coady dragging a header simply extensive. But the Three Lions' pursuit of an equaliser proved to be in useless, and Hungary hung on for a famous victory.
