Scorers: A.Vidmar 4 & 44 (2nd), Klausz (H) 31, Muscat 43 (2nd)
Referee: a German one (quite good)
A small surprise at the start with John Filan in for Bosnich. Australia start by looking much more together than in Skopje. 2 min a move on the left found Vidmar offside? Hungary try to attack but Tony Vidmar makes a great tackle to break it down. Slater received the ball on the right, stands on it, looks up and hits a beaut ball to the far post where Aurelio Vidmar rises to head it across goal and in! 1-0. 4 mins. Oz dominate for the next 10 minutes with Slater active, but Hungary show promise with a snap shot by Klausz. Hungary then start to come into the match, pushing up more and Oz struggle to get forward.
T.Vidmar overlaps well and almost walks the ball through but sees it palmed away by the keeper. Zelic is upended for the 4th time whilst coming forward on one of his mazy runs. Klausz scores for Hungary at the 31 min mark after a through ball finds him unmarked with most of Australia's defence committed forward for a long throw. 1-1. Hungary have another chance soon after but Klausz hits it over the bar from a corner. Australia force their way back and at 42 mins Graham Arnold (who has been playing so deep he's behind Zelic and Slater often) finds space free on the right and from a Ned Zelic ball hits well to draw a good save from the Hungarian keeper.
Second half sees more tentative play and at the 3 min Muscat (2nd half sub.) eases off his man to see him move up and take a strike just off the left side of goal. Lazarides who has been withdrawn (in both senses) in the 1st half starts to overlap and combines with Viduka (who was unseen 1st half) for a great chance. Popovic comes up and is fouled. Viduka puts it over the wall, and the bar. Lazarides through on the left flank again and with a nifty little flick goes around the defender slips the ball in and Muscat muffs the shot. For the next 10 mins it ebbs and flows, but Oz start to hold possession. Zelic waltzes through again and is brought down again. T.Vidmar takes the kick and a long strike is just smothered by the keeper.
77 mins and a little one-two (Viduka-Lazarides-Viduka) is inches wide from Viduka. A freekick and Zelic misses. By now (80 mins) Australia look on top. Viduka brought down, and Zelic puts the shot to the keeper. Hungary make a move up and Hungary get a free kick in range which Filan gathers. At 88 mins Zelic makes a terrific through ball, which Lazarides chests down and Muscat coming up on the right smashes into the top far (left) corner. 2-1. Oz attack again and Muscat hits a cross which finds A.Vidmar moving into space on the far post, and he makes no mistake in the 89th min. 3-1. That's it folks!
The performance in Budapest was very encouraging. The formation was interesting with Tony Vidmar playing as a central defender, and Arnold roving between the front and the backline as ball carrier along with Zelic. The first half can be discounted to an extent as they were getting it together, but the second was "tres interestiment!" The interchange between players was quite outstanding - was TV bringing 'the whirl' back to Hungary for Puskas's birthday? It opens up a much more fluid combination and like others you must lick your lips at the thought of a midfield which contains Okon and Zelic.
The up front target man is a problem as Viduka held the ball reasonably well but wasn't able to turn the defence or lay the ball off to anyone and height wasn't used to advantage. Trimmers can do those other things better. Almost makes you wish for a young rejuvenated John Markovski. Many passes went astray but at least things were tried, and possession was quite tight in the second half. Lazarides looked good once he got right up the line, and Horvat and Popovic were very safe (except for both getting caught forward when Klausz scored). If this is 1-3-5-2 and the 'christmas tree' then I like it! You could feel that anyone of the backline or midfield could score; shame about the attack. I am an Aurelio Vidmar fan since his first game and he is now playing his proper role. I have been a fan of Filan as you know but he was a little shaky in positioning though he distributed well.
Generally it is pleasing for me as a long term watcher to see the ball skills and tactical sense of Australian players up to European standards. If you compare the style of the two teams, Hungary showed less variation and use of heaight and Australia slower head-up decision making and more build from the back. Otherwise they were very similar in style - which is what I have said - the Oz style is very central European with a bit of dogged aggression added on!
If we had two more real games after the home series to settle the team I would be happier. For that reason TV may demand all the top players back for the Pacific qualifiers, so that the team can 'gel', before meeting (I presume) the tough West Asian countries. Now to find a goalscorer! I would have tried Agostino instead of Viduka or Aloisi in this game. It is a shame he didn't call up Tobin and Trimmers for this game as they may be one's to slot in to the match 14/15.
Best: Zelic, A.Vidmar, and Slater, but 2nd half Lazarides played a blinder.