Turkey Promoted to Nations League A After Dominant Win Over Hungary

Turkey secured promotion to Nations League A with a convincing 3-0 win over Hungary, sealing a 6-1 aggregate victory and back-to-back promotions in the competition.

Turkey secured a historic promotion to Nations League A after a dominant display against Hungary. A three-minute blitz, in which they scored two goals, set the tone for a resounding 3-0 victory, sealing a 6-1 aggregate win.

Hungary, seeking to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg, started strongly. However, they squandered an early opportunity when Barnabas Varga failed to convert from inside the six-yard box, steering his effort wide within the first four minutes.

Ugurcan Cakır produced a spectacular save to deny Daniel Gazdag, sprinting off his line to narrow the angle and blocking the shot with an outstretched left hand. This stunning stop prevented Hungary from taking the lead.

The momentum then shifted in favor of Vincenzo Montella's team. Dominik Szoboszlai's long-range free-kick grazed the crossbar, and soon after, Turkey seized the initiative. Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty kick, awarded after Attila Fiola's reckless challenge on Ismail Yuksek, to give Turkey the lead.

Minutes later, Turkey doubled their advantage. Arda Guler, the Real Madrid star, slotted home from close range, courtesy of Oguz Aydın's assist. With a daunting four-goal deficit to overcome, the hosts faced an uphill battle. Their resistance crumbled, and the home crowd's spirits sank. In contrast, Turkey reveled in their dominance, with captain Calhanoglu unleashing a powerful drive from distance that was saved.

Hungary's attacking efforts were few and far between, but Loic Nego did manage to test Ugurcan Cakır with a well-struck volley, which the goalkeeper expertly palmed away. However, this was a rare glimpse of threat from Marco Rossi's side, who struggled to create meaningful chances despite enjoying plenty of possession.

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Hungary's attacking woes were epitomized by Kevin Csoboth's indecisiveness when through on goal. He hesitated, effectively standing on the ball, and the opportunity went begging. The hosts failed to muster another shot on target over the final half-hour, producing a lackluster display.

The visitors sealed their dominant win in the 90th minute, as Abdulkerim Bardakcıbaris met Barıs Alper Yılmaz's deep cross with a header at the back post. This victory marked Turkey's fifth win in their last seven outings, securing back-to-back promotions in the Nations League. Conversely, Hungary's two-year stint in the top tier came to an end, with the team now winless in four consecutive games for the first time since 2021.