Hungary Breaks Through Against Armenia to Salvage World Cup Hopes

BUDAPEST — In a match that demanded resilience after recent disappointments, Hungary delivered a second-half masterclass at the Puskás Aréna on Saturday, defeating Armenia 2-0 to breathe life into their faltering World Cup qualification campaign.

The breakthrough came in the 56th minute when Dániel Lukács, introduced as a substitute just three minutes earlier, capitalized on uncertainty in the Armenian defense to give the hosts the lead they desperately needed. For a Hungarian side that had endured a brutal stretch—three consecutive defeats including a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Portugal just a month ago—the relief was palpable throughout the 52,000-capacity stadium.

The opening 45 minutes told a different story. Armenia, riding high after their surprising 2-1 victory over Ireland in their previous outing, showed the confidence of a team that had found its rhythm. They defended with discipline and threatened on the counterattack, forcing Hungary to probe patiently for openings that simply wouldn't materialize. When the halftime whistle blew with the scoreboard still blank, anxious murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Hungary manager made decisive changes after the interval, and Lukács's introduction proved transformative. The substitute needed less than ten minutes to justify his manager's faith, finishing clinically to crack open a contest that had threatened to slip away. The goal unleashed the attacking verve that had been conspicuously absent during Hungary's winless five-match streak, a drought that had seen them concede defeat four times and salvage just a single draw.

Armenia, sitting second in the qualification standings before kickoff, struggled to respond. Their recent form had been wildly inconsistent—the euphoria of toppling Ireland immediately preceded by a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Portugal. That volatility resurfaced as they chased the equalizer, leaving gaps at the back that Hungary's reinvigorated attack exploited with increasing frequency.

As the match entered stoppage time, Zsombor Gruber delivered the coup de grâce. His 90th-minute strike—coming in the fourth minute of added time—sealed the points and sent the home supporters into raptures. For Gruber, who had been introduced in the 63rd minute, it was a moment of redemption for a team that had grown accustomed to late-game disappointment rather than triumph.

The victory moves Hungary to third in the qualification group, while Armenia remains in second position despite the setback. But the margins in European qualifying are razor-thin, and this result reshuffles the deck with crucial matches still to come. Hungary's ability to finally convert home advantage into three points—something that had eluded them throughout their recent struggles—could prove pivotal as the campaign reaches its decisive phase.

The contrast between the teams' trajectories was striking. Hungary had shown flashes of quality in their 2-1 victory over Azerbaijan in June and pushed Ireland to a 2-2 draw in September, with Barnabás Varga and Roland Sallai finding the net. But losses to powerhouses Sweden and Turkey had exposed vulnerabilities that Armenia seemed poised to exploit. Instead, it was the hosts who found their footing when it mattered most.

The clean sheet will provide additional encouragement for a Hungarian defense that had conceded in each of their previous five matches. Goalkeeper and back line maintained their composure even as Armenia pressed for an equalizer after falling behind, a maturity that had been absent during their recent defeats.

For Armenia, the loss represents a missed opportunity to consolidate their position near the top of the group. Their inability to maintain consistency—alternating between demolishing Ireland and being demolished by Portugal—remains their Achilles heel as the qualification race intensifies.

With the World Cup dream still flickering, Hungary now faces the challenge of building momentum from this victory. Armenia must regroup and rediscover the form that shocked Ireland just a month ago. In the unforgiving mathematics of qualification, Saturday's result at the Puskás Aréna may well define both teams' summers in 2026.