EURO 2024 Qualifiers: Bulgaria overcame a number of challenges but missed out on success over Hungary with a last-second own goal

The Euro qualifier between Bulgaria and Hungary ended in a 2:2 draw.

Martin Adam (Hungary) scored the opening goal before Spas Delev (Bulgaria) equalised. Valentin Antov (Bulgaria) was sent off and left the hosts a man down. Milos Kerkez (Hungary) was also sent off. Kiril Despodov (Bulgaria) turned the match around from the penalty spot. Alex Petkov (Bulgaria), however, scored an own goal in the 97th minute.

The Hungarians took the lead in the 9th minute. Martin Adam headed in from a cross by Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary).

Bulgaria equalised in the 24th minute when Spas Delev received a pass from Kiril Despodov and put the ball into the top right corner of the net.

The situation for the hosts was complicated in the 37th minute when Valentin Antov received a second yellow card and was sent off.

Just 2 minutes later, Ilija Gruev (Bulgaria) was sent off with a direct red card for a foul on Endre Botka (Hungary), who broke away one-on-one with the goalkeeper. After the intervention of the VAR, the head referee changed his decision and cancelled the red card for Ilija Gruev, who remained on the pitch.

After the break, with their numerical advantage, Hungary applied pressure but did not score.

The visitors were also down a man on the pitch in the 57th minute when Milos Kerkez received a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle and was sent off.

In the 79th minute, Kiril Despodov (Bulgaria) made an impressive break into the opposition penalty area, where he was brought down. The head referee awarded a penalty, which was converted the by PAOK striker making the score 2-1.

Towards the end of the match, Daniel Naumov (Bulgaria) made two key saves.

In the 97th minute, however, Ilian Iliev's players conceded an equaliser. Dominik Szoboszlai centred into the penalty area from a direct free-kick and Alex Petkov (Bulgaria) scored an own goal in an attempt to clear the ball with his head.

Final score: 2-2

Bulgaria remains in last position in group G with 3 points. Hungary are in first place with 15 points and have now qualified for the European Championship in Germany in 2024.

European qualifier between Bulgaria and Hungary will be played behind closed doors tonight at the national stadium in Sofia

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