Hungary stunned 10-man Austria 2-0 as second-half goals from Adam Szalai and Zoltan Stieber earned a surprise victory in their Euro 2016 Group F opener.
Austria came into Tuesday’s meeting in Bordeaux as the favourites to get their campaign off to a triumphant start, having cruised through qualifying in style, dropping just two points from their 10 fixtures.
But Hungary, who scraped into the play-offs before defeating Norway, had other ideas and after being on the back foot for much of the first half, took the lead just after the hour through Szalai’s prodded finish.
And things went from bad to worse for Marcel Koller’s men four minutes later when defender Aleksandar Dragovic was – perhaps harshly shown a second yellow card.
Hungary, making their first appearance at a major international tournament in 30 years, clinched victory on the counter three minutes from time through substitute Stieber to get off to the ideal start in a group also containing Portugal and Iceland.
Austria, meanwhile, were left to rue not making their first-half dominance count with talisman David Alaba having come closest for them when he struck the woodwork inside the first minute.
Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly made history as, at 40 years of age, he became the oldest player to feature at a European Championship match.
Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak then wasted the chance to punish that profligacy just before half-time when he dragged a shot wide from inside the box.
And Austria’s plight worsened soon afterwards when Dragovic caught Tamas Kadar in trying to reach the ball inside the Hungary area and referee Clement Turpin brandished a second caution.
Krisztian Nemeth almost put the game beyond Austria when Almer superbly tipped his effort around the post, before Marcel Sabitzer wasted a golden chance to equalise when he blazed over at the other end.
As time ticked away and Austria pressed hard for a leveller, they left themselves open at the back and Tamas Priskin freed his fellow replacement Stieber, who lifted a composed finish over Almer to spark wild scenes of celebration.
