Dazzling first half not enough as N.Z. loses, 1-2, to Hungary

Press, 15 February 1982, Page 38

Dazzling first half not enough as N.Z. loses, 1-2, to Hungary

By

ALISTAIR ARMSTRONG

A dazzling first-half display that ranked among the finest New Zealand soccer has produced carried it to the brink of success in the second international against Hungary at Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch, yesterday.

Hungary won 2-1, but not before the New Zealanders, minus seven of their World Cup squad, won the hearts of the 13,000-strong crowd by taking the game to the Europeans in the first spell. New Zealand led 1-0 at half-time after a cool-headed thirteenth-minute penalty by the 18-year-old Wellington striker, Wynton Rufer. It was Rufer that gave a taste of things to come when in the opening minutes of the game he intercepted a backheaded pass from a Hungarian defender only to find he had over-run the bye-line. A narrow chance had been missed and the home team picked up on the impetus and never let go.

In the twelfth minute, the left winger, Ken Cresswell, whipped the game up to fever-pitch with a rocket drive that shook the crossbar above the Hungarian goal-keeper, Lazslo Kakas. Cresswell, not a first selection in coach John Adshead's World Cup squad, wasted no time on a through ball from Wynton Rufer and gave the home side its best chance in a memorable spell.

A minute later Rufer barged home New Zealand's advantage after the bustling Hungarian midfielder, Sandor Sallai. was caught by the referee. Gary Fleet, of Wellington, handling in the penalty area. Rufer paused briefly at the penalty spot before calmly pushing the ball'low and to the left of the diving Kakas.

■■ New Zealand then held on to its lead, till half time with some great team work from their mid-field and back four. Bobby Almond, the skipper, John Hill, Adrian Elrick, and Glen. Adam tackled tirelessly. with Hill’s marking of the lofty Hungarian forward, Gabor Poloskei, an outstanding success. Hill, aged 32, and a former Irish international showed why he was a regular in New Zealand’s preliminary Cup matches with his off-the-ball

running and linkwork with the midfielders and Rufer. New Zealand created several chances ' again before half-time with Cresswell in particular finding gaps in the Hungarian defence. The second half started slowly with the Europeans tightening their control in the mid-field where previously Duncan Cole and Keith Mackay had held their own.

In the fifth minute of the half, Poloskei evened the scores with a firm header to the left of the New Zealand keeper, Frank Van Hattum. Poloskei was fed by a delicately placed chip at the edge of the goal area from Sallai. Glen Adam headed a similar shot from Sallai out in the first occasion, but Sallai recovered possession and repeated the move, this time with results.

The Hungarians continued to pile on the pressure and after bringing on the frontmen, Ignac Izso and Bela Varady in place of Kiss and Ferenc Csongradi, found their finishing power. In the sixty-sixth minute, Almond was caught in possession at the edge of the goal area and as he hesitated, Izso rushed in and kicked home a right-footer from ground level. New Zealand's best chance

in the remainder of the second spell came when Rufer ran from the midfield and forcing him between two backmarkers, almost pushed the ball past Kakas. The Hungarians nearly made it an own goal when a defender finding his balance backheeled the ball within a metre of his own net. However, it was the professionalism of the Hungarians that told in the final stages as they did just enough to keep the New Zealanders at bay. The home side ran itself ragged for 90 minutes, with Mackay and Cole playing their usual hard-working games, but it was the speed of the visitors that proved too much. Hungary could barely console itself with its effort though as, like the first international, it failed to fully capitalise on the chances it had. The midfielder, Bela Bodonyi, caused the most headaches for the home defenders, while the 22-year-old Sallai was always aggressive. Hungary’s star mid-fielder, Tibor Nyilasi, also came on in the second half but he played a low-key role and featured in only one attempt at goal.