Hungary finally have a win on the board in this season’s UEFA Nations League, and two Liverpool players were at the heart of it.
In front of 52,780 supporters at the Puskás Aréna on Friday night, Marco Rossi’s side dominated Georgia, firing 26 shots at goal, eight of them on target, while the visitors managed just three.
The only goal arrived in the 35th minute, and it came from an unlikely source.
Milos Kerkez charged into the box to meet Dániel Lukács’ cross with a firm header, beating his Liverpool teammate Giorgi Mamardashvili, who made five saves on the night.
It was Kerkez’s first senior goal for his country, arriving on his 35th cap.
Dominik Szoboszlai captained the side and drove Hungary forward from midfield before being substituted in the 80th minute.
So how did the Hungarian press rate the Liverpool pair?
Nemzeti Sport, the country’s leading sports daily, handed both players a 7 out of 10.
On Szoboszlai, the outlet noted, “With two more “fidgety” players on his side and in front of him, his speed of play could have been better.”
“He had two shots until the 25th minute of the first half, meaning (finally!) he was in the air to find the right air corridor with the ball – well, in the second half the ball went towards the top left corner, it took a great save…”
“Although Milos Kerkez’s header was needed for the victory, the team captain brought his best form, and he was the ace of the match. ”
Kerkez’s rating marked a notable turnaround.
After his display against Northern Ireland earlier in the break, Nemzeti Sport had criticised him for being overworked.
This time, the outlet said, “In the evaluation against the Northern Irish, our problem, our criticism was that he was overworked.”
“Well, that was not the case this time – in fact!”
“The right side of the Georgian defense “fell asleep” so nicely that the left-back scored the winning goal with a superb header – what’s more, it was his first goal for the national team!”
“Wormwood in joy: he will not be able to play against the Ukrainians on Monday due to his two yellow cards.”
There was a sting in the tail, though.
Kerkez was booked in the 74th minute, his second yellow card of the competition, ruling him out of Monday’s meeting with Ukraine.
Nemzeti Sport described it as bitterness mixed with joy.
Speaking to M4 Sport, and choosing to do so in Hungarian, Kerkez said he was proud of how everyone fought and called it “our best match out of the three”.
He also promised to keep improving his Hungarian over the next couple of years.
Szoboszlai, meanwhile, offered some playful praise for his Liverpool teammate, telling M4 Sport that Kerkez is not the sharpest knife in the drawer but puts his heart and soul into the game.
For Liverpool and Andoni Iraola, it was a positive night.
Szoboszlai showed again why he is so central to club and country, while Kerkez, who has started five of Liverpool’s six matches this season, heads back to Merseyside with confidence high and a few extra days of rest before a demanding run of fixtures.
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