Internet Desk: Iceland battled back to frustrate Portugal as they drew 1-1 in their Euro 2016 Group F opener in Saint-Etienne.
Portugal took the lead on 31 minutes through Nani but had to settle for a point after Birkir Bjarnason’s neat equaliser after the break.
Iceland — appearing in their first major international tournament — had the chance for an early breakthrough when Gylfi Sigurdsson had a sight of goal, but he could not beat keeper Rui Patricio.
Portugal started to seize control as the half wore on, though, and Vierinha gave Hannes Thor Halldorsson some problems with a shot from distance on 18 minutes.
Shortly afterwards, they should have had the lead when Cristiano Ronaldo crossed for his former Manchester United teammate Nani, but the Fenerbahce winger’s header was saved at point-blank range.
Ronaldo himself then missed with a headed chance before just failing to make contact with a Pepe cross.
They did not have to wait much longer for the breakthrough. With just over half an hour played, Andre Gomes was able to get down the right after some stylish build-up play before delivering a low cross for Nani, who converted from close range.
That gave Portugal a deserved 1-0 lead at the break and the pattern looked set to continue after the restart, but Iceland drew level on 50 minutes.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson sent in a cross from the right that found its way to Bjarnason, who coolly swept the ball past Patricio.
Portugal looked to reassert their dominance but were struggling to make things happen, as when Ronaldo produced a neat flick to spark a move on 56 minutes but was ultimately crowded out as he tried to engineer space for a shot.
Nani came close to adding a second on 71 minutes when he headed just wide of goal from Raphael Guerreiro’s free kick. Ronaldo also fired just over as Portugal broke away on the counter as Iceland pursued an ill-advised handball appeal at the other end.
On 85 minutes, as Portugal were increasing the pressure, Ronaldo was presented with a cross at the back post by Nani, but the Real Madrid forward’s header was gathered by Halldorsson at the second attempt.
Iceland were increasingly forced to cling on as the match drew to its conclusion and they survived two Ronaldo free kicks in succession deep into injury time to ensure they came away with a valuable point.
In another match earlier in the night, Hungary achieved their first victory at the European Championships, and their first in any major competition since defeating El Salvador 10-1 at the 1982 World Cup, to spark wild celebrations here with team and supporters.
Taking special acclaim, however, was Adam Szalai, who scored the game’s crucial opening goal – and his first in 39 matches for clubs and country.
Up to Szalai’s goal it had been an attractive match with a bit of bite but lacking the tension and urgency a goal injects.
Both sides set up with 4-2-3-1, Hungary pushing Laszlo Kleinheisler forward to stop Austria bringing the ball out.
Then, just after the hour, came Szalai’s moment of joy. A minute previously a poor touch had been jeered but this time he chested a long pass to Kleinheisler, exchanged further passes with him, then, with Christian Fuchs playing him onside, steered the ball under Robert Almer.
Austria thought they had levelled within three minutes through Martin Hinteregger’s spectacular goal but their glee turned to anger as referee Clement Turpin disallowed the goal and dismissed Aleksander Dragovic. The defender had fouled Tamas Kadar in the build-up to incur a second yellow card in the build-up.