The Malta Independent 26 April 2024, Friday
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Euro 2016: Keeper Kiraly sets record as Hungary beat Austria 2-0

Associated Press Tuesday, 14 June 2016, 21:14 Last update: about 9 years ago

Gabor Kiraly set an age record at the European Championship, and helpedHungary beat Austria 2-0 on Tuesday.

The Hungary goalkeeper became the first 40-year-old player to participate in the continental championship, surpassing the record set by Germany great Lothar Matthaus by almost a year.

Adam Szalai gave Hungary the lead at Stade de Bordeaux with his first goal in 12 appearances. Substitute Zoltan Stieber added the other after Austria was reduced to 10 men when Aleksandar Dragovic was shown a second yellow card.

Kiraly, wearing his trademark gray sweatpants, made some good stops, including a dive to block a shot from Zlatko Junuzovic in the 35th minute. He also smothered a shot from David Alaba in the 10th.

Kiraly is 40 years and 75 days. Matthaus was 39 years and 91 days when Germany played Portugal at Euro 2000.

Szalai scored after playing a one-two with Hungary teammate Laszlo Kleinheisler. He then ran into the box and latched onto the return pass before scoring under Austria goalkeeper Robert Almer.

"I don't want to talk about myself. The whole team won," Szalai said. "Everyone worked together. I think we managed to do everything our manager told us in terms of advice and strategy."

Austria thought it had equalized moments after the Hungary goal, when Martin Hinteregger put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for a foul and Dragovic was sent off with a second yellow card.

Stieber made it 2-0 in the 87th, bursting down the right flank from inside his own half and lifting a long ball over the onrushing Almer.

Alaba, a defender who plays for Bayern Munich, was at the heart of most of Austria's attacking moves. He nearly scored in the opening minute but his 25-yard effort hit the bottom of the right post.

"I think we were still the better team, even though that might be shocking," Alaba said. "Now we just have to forget this and push on."


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