Denzel Dumfries came to the rescue for the Netherlands with a dramatic late equalizer, earning his team a 1-1 draw against Hungary in their UEFA Nations League Group A3 clash. The Dutch, playing in Budapest on Friday, faced a tough challenge as captain Virgil van Dijk was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.
Hungary took the lead in the 32nd minute when a misplaced pass from Tijjani Reijnders allowed Zsolt Nagy to deliver a perfect cross, which Roland Sallai volleyed into the net. Sallai had been doubtful for the match due to injury but played a pivotal role in giving Hungary an early advantage.
Despite the Netherlands dominating possession—over 80% in the first half—they struggled to break down Hungary’s solid defense. Cody Gakpo came close to scoring but was denied by a superb save from Hungary goalkeeper Denes Dibusz. The Dutch continued to push for an equalizer, but the frustration mounted when Van Dijk was sent off in the 79th minute, leaving the visitors with 10 men.
However, the Netherlands’ persistence paid off in the 88th minute when Dumfries rose to head in Gakpo’s precise free-kick, securing a crucial point for his team. The result keeps the Netherlands in second place in Group A3 with five points, behind leaders Germany, who defeated Bosnia 2-1.
Dumfries, wearing Van Dijk’s captain’s armband after the red card, praised the team’s resilience. “It was a frustrating match, but we fought hard. Compliments to the team for staying strong and getting the equalizer,” he said. Hungary, hoping to secure their first win against the Netherlands in 40 years, managed to end their losing streak of nine straight defeats against the Dutch but fell short of claiming all three points.
