Norway 0 - 1 Hungary: Laszlo Kleinheisler puts Hungary in pole position after play-off win in Norway

Posted Friday, November 13, 2015 by PA

Hungary took a step towards their first major tournament in 30 years as a strike from debutant Laszlo Kleinheisler steered them to a 1-0 away win over Norway in the first leg of their Euro 2016 qualifying play-off.

Midfielder Kleinheisler marked his senior bow by firing in a powerful 26th-minute shot that seemed to catch Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, who got fingertips to it, by surprise.

While the visitors put in a dogged defensive effort thereafter, Norway had two second-half penalty shouts turned down by referee Mark Clattenburg and hit the crossbar late on through substitute Pal Andre Helland's header.

Certainly, Per-Mathias Hogmo's men will be hoping for better luck in Sunday's second leg in Budapest, where they will be looking to turn the situation around and reach what would be their first major tournament since 2000.

Norway began the contest the brighter and Hungary were grateful to their veteran stopper Gabor Kiraly in the third minute when he pulled off a fine save to tip Per Ciljan Skjelbred's close-range shot over the bar.

Even Hovland then headed over from the resulting corner, before Hungary fired a warning with their first real attempt, Kleinheisler bringing a decent near-post save out of Nyland with a powerful drive.

It really did prove an indicator of what was to come, with Kleinheisler then breaking the deadlock as he collected the ball from Akos Elek, took one touch with his right foot and cracked a shot at goal with his left that the diving Nyland made contact with but could not prevent from crossing the line.

As Norway sought a leveller, Alexander Soderlund saw his first-time shot hit Kiraly's legs and Markus Henriksen shot off-target unconvincingly.

At the other end, Elek had one header saved by Nyland and then put another over.

The away side threatened again soon after the break as Balazs Dzsudzsak's attempt was saved, seconds before Clattenburg waved away Omar Elabdellaoui's protests that Tamas Kadar had fouled him in the Hungary box.

Soderlund miscued a shot horribly, and then Elabdellaoui - this time claiming he had been tripped in the area by Elek - was booked for diving.

Norway's frustration was growing, and that only continued as they came closer and closer to equalising in the remaining minutes.

Kiraly fumbled a corner with 20 to go but Attila Fiola was there to clear off the line, and the goalkeeper then produced a fantastic save to deny Stefan Johansen in the 88th, with Helland heading the rebound against the bar.

Further headed efforts from substitute Marcus Pedersen and Henriksen were to no avail as Hungary held on.