20.03.2025 22:10
Our national team defeated Hungary 3-1 in the first match of the UEFA Nations League A/B playoff round. With this result, the Crescent-Stars gained a significant advantage in their bid to promote to League A ahead of the return match to be played in Budapest on March 23. On the other hand, Orkun Kökçü received a yellow card and will be suspended, while Kaan Ayhan left the game due to injury.
Our national team hosted Hungary in the first match of the UEFA Nations League A/B playoff round. The national team, which managed to win the match at RAMS Park 3-1, gained a significant advantage before the return leg.
THE VICTORY OF ÇANAKKALE WAS NOT FORGOTTEN
Due to the 110th anniversary of the Çanakkale Victory on March 18, many banners were displayed in the stands during the match. In the RAMS Park stands, banners such as "Who can dig the grave that won't be too small for you? If I say let’s bury you in history, you won’t fit", "Çanakkale is the pride capital of this nation", "Those who do not know their past cannot shape the future. Çanakkale is a spirit" and "They did not think of returning, the martyrs of Mektebi Sultani" were present.
REACTION FROM THE STANDS TO ISRAEL
In response to the genocidal occupation of Palestine by Israel and the attacks in Gaza and the West Bank, many banners were displayed in the RAMS Park stands. The banners included "Humanity lost conscience in Gaza", "If Jerusalem is not free, the world is captive", "#palestiniangenocide", "#letgazababieslive" and "#freepalestine".
MINISTER BAK WATCHED THE MATCH FROM THE STANDS
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, also watched the match played by the national team against Hungary from the stands. Minister Bak followed the match along with the President of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, the National Teams Coordinator Ceyhun Kazancı, and TFF Board members.
HUNGARIAN FANS SHOWED GREAT INTEREST IN THE MATCH
Hungarian fans also showed interest in the match played by the national team against Hungary in Istanbul. The Hungarian fans completely filled the section allocated to them at RAMS Park. This match was also recorded as Hungary's 1000th official match.
ORKUN OPENED THE SCORING
The national team started the match quickly and found the goal in the 9th minute. Oğuz Aydın, who met the long ball from Abdülkerim Kerim Bardakcı on the right inner flank, passed the ball to Orkun Kökçü next to him. Orkun made a classy shot with the ball he controlled outside the penalty area, managing to shake the net. With this goal, the national team took a 1-0 lead.
THE HUNGARIANS EQUALIZED THE SCORE
The visiting team won the ball in a dangerous area after a passing error by goalkeeper Uğurcan. Szoboszlai, who controlled the ball, saw his teammate on the right wing. Varga headed the incoming cross to the back post towards the goal area. Schafer, who found the ball in front of him, shot and found the net, bringing the score to 1-1. This goal also determined the score of the first half.
KAAN AYHAN INJURED
After Hungary's equalizing goal, Kaan Ayhan, who had previously suffered an injury, had to leave the game in the 25th minute. Although he experienced a knee injury in the 20th minute, he continued to play after treatment. Mert Müldür came on for Kaan Ayhan in the 27th minute.
ORKUN KÖKÇÜ FELL INTO A SUSPENDED SITUATION
Orkun Kökçü, who scored the national team's goal, entered the match on the yellow card limit. Orkun received a yellow card in the 41st minute after a foul on Zsolt Nagy and fell into a suspended situation for the return match. As no goals were scored in the remaining part of the first 45 minutes, the teams went into halftime with a 1-1 draw.
KEREM PUT THE TEAM AHEAD AGAIN
The goal that put the crescent-star team ahead again came from Kerem Aktürkoğlu in the 69th minute. Oğuz Aydın, who moved from the right wing, met Mert Müldür's pass at the end line and made a cross. Kerem, who headed the ball from this cross, sent it into the net, giving the national team a 2-1 lead.
OĞUZ AYDIN WITH 2 ASSISTS AT ONCE
Oğuz Aydın made his debut for the national team against Hungary. Oğuz, who was given a starting position by coach Vincenzo Montella, managed to make 2 assists in his first official match, assisting Orkun Kökçü in the 9th minute and Kerem Aktürkoğlu in the 69th minute. The star player left his place to İrfan Can Kahveci in the 72nd minute.
IRFAN CAN INCREASED THE LEAD TO 2
The red-and-white team increased the lead to 2 with a goal scored by İrfan Can Kahveci as soon as he entered the game. Kerem Aktürkoğlu controlled the ball that Mert Müldür sent into the penalty area with his chest. İrfan Can, who found the ball in front of him, sent it into the net with a powerful shot, bringing the score to 3-1 in the 73rd minute.
WHEN IS THE RETURN MATCH?
As no more goals were scored in the remaining minutes of the match, Turkey left the field with a 3-1 victory. The return match between the two teams will be played on Sunday, March 23, at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. In the match at 20:00 Turkish time, the team that advances will earn the right to compete in the UEFA Nations League A.