facebooktwittertelegramwhatsapp
copy short urlprintemail
+ A
A -
webmaster
DPA
Berlin
England could only draw 1-1 at home to Hungary on Tuesday as another encounter between the sides was marred by crowd trouble.
The Three Lions won the reverse fixture 4-0 last month in this World Cup qualifying campaign but had to endure racist abuse that saw Hungary ordered to play a future match behind closed doors.
At Wembley, the Metropolitan Police told of a “racially aggravated public order offence” by an individual in the away end “following comments made towards a steward”.
Attempts to arrest the individual led to scuffles between the police and visiting supporters early in the game.
On the pitch, meanwhile, England had to come from behind to claim a point that nudges them a little nearer to qualification, with John Stones’ strike eight minutes before the break cancelling out a Roland Sallai penalty.
Gareth Southgate’s men were in control without truly threatening for the 22 minutes before the spot-kick was awarded against Luke Shaw for a high boot on Loic Nego just inside the area.
After a delay, during which home players protested the left-back’s innocence, Sallai sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way. However, a succession of fouls around the Hungary box built pressure on their goal, and Phil Foden’s right-wing free-kick earned a touch on its way through to the far post and Stones, who had a simple finish.
Raheem Sterling’s header on the stroke of half-time was parried by Peter Gulacsi, but the England forward prodded a tame rebound wide, before Stones nodded a Foden corner off target following the restart.
England remain top of Group I, three points aherad of Poland who leapfrogged Albania with a 1-0 win from Karol Swiderski in Tirana.
The game was stopped for several minutes over crowd trouble after Poland’s 77th-minute goal.
copy short url   Copy
14/10/2021
10