Parrott Hat-trick Sickens Hungary As Ireland Grab World Cup Playoff Spot In Wild Win

An injury-time extremity by Troy Parrott to complete his hat-trick booked Republic of Ireland a spot successful nan playoffs for adjacent year’s World Cup pinch a thrilling 3-2 comeback triumph complete their nearest Group F rivals Hungary successful a must-win crippled successful Budapest.

Higher-ranked Hungary conscionable needed a tie to unafraid 2nd spot and led 2-1 astatine half-time acknowledgment to goals from Daniel Lukacs and Barnabas Varga, but Parrott’s 2nd extremity of nan nighttime connected 80 minutes and last-gasp victor collapsed nan location side’s hearts.

Hungary, who dissimilar Ireland person made nan finals of nan past 3 European championships, sewage disconnected to nan cleanable commencement erstwhile Lukacs flicked successful a Dominik Szoboszlai short area connected 4 minutes, only for Parrott to equalise from nan punishment spot connected 15 minutes.

Caoimhin Kelleher kept nan sides level pinch a good adjacent scope prevention from Roland Sallai but could do thing connected 37 minutes erstwhile striker Barnabas Varga chested nan shot down pinch his backmost to extremity conscionable extracurricular nan box, swivelled and unleashed a stunning left-foot half volley into nan apical corner.

Ireland had group up nan tense finale pinch a daze triumph complete group winners Portugal and looked retired of state until Parrott, their hero from Thursday night, collapsed done to equalise again pinch 10 minutes to spell and stabbed location his 5th extremity successful 2 games.
He was mobbed by exultant teammates and substitutes.

Portugal vanished apical of Group F connected 13 points aft a 9-1 triumph complete bottom-placed Armenia, 3 points clear of Ireland who will request to triumph 2 single-leg playoff games successful March to subordinate them successful nan United States, Mexico and Canada adjacent June.