Earnshaw brings Wales victory to calm tempers
Hungary 1 Wales
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Your support makes all the difference.Robert Earnshaw scored a late goal to give Wales victory in a spiteful match which still simmered away after the final whistle. Robbie Savage was confronted by the Hungary coach, Lothar Matthäus, on the pitch at full-time and had to be led away by Welsh officials.
Krisztian Kenesei had put Hungary ahead from the spot, but Jason Koumas drove Wales level with a long-range free-kick before Earnshaw's decider.
Wales' depleted squad was further hit by the late loss of the captain, Gary Speed, through illness, and Andy Melville captained the side. Leicester's Ben Thatcher won his first cap while Carl Robinson, on loan at Sunderland, stepped in for Speed.
On seven minutes, Krisztian Lisztes laid the ball back to the edge of the box but Jones turned away Zoltan Gera's swerving shot. On 13 minutes Krisztian Kenesei's free-kick 30 yards out went dipping just over the crossbar.
Wales were giving away too much possession and after 17 minutes Daniel Gabbidon conceded a penalty for a clumsy tackle on Lisztes which Kenesei converted. But Wales hit back back within three minutes. Earnshaw was fouled 25 yards out and Koumas drove home the free-kick off the post for his first goal for his country.
Thatcher was cautioned for a foul on Gera, and Lisztes was booked for fouling Koumas. Torghelle also went into the referee Florian Meyer's book after sending Robert Page flying with a late challenge.
After the interval, Wales were still not able to stem the flow through midfield where Gera was influential, while the giant defenders Adam Komlosi and Zoltan Peto were muscling Earnshaw out of the game.
Earnshaw was finding space on the flanks away from tiring defenders and was rewarded for his persistence on 81 minutes when he latched onto Zsolt Low's crossfield ball and cut inside Komlosi to score his seventh goal in 11 internationals.
With five minutes left, Savage was booked for dragging back Low, and when Peto flung the Birmingham player to the floor, he received a yellow card.
Coyne, who came on at half-time to replace Jones, produced a superb reflex save to block a fierce drive from Gera before the match ended in a mêlée.
HUNGARY (4-4-2): Babos; Komlosi (Dveri, 88), Low (Bodor, 88), Bodnar, Stark; Peto, Molnar (Bojte, 75), Lisztes (Toth, 52), Kenesei (Szabics, 46); Gera, Torghelle (Sebok, 70). Substitute not used: Szucs.
WALES (4-4-2): S Jones (Coyne, 46); Gabbidon, Thatcher (Edwards, 53), Melville, Page; Robinson (Fletcher, 89), Savage, Koumas, G Taylor; Earnshaw, Vaughan (G Roberts, 66). Substitutes not used: Barnard, Symons, Collins, N Roberts, Margetson.
Referee: F Meyer (Germany)
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