Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai delivered a moment of magic in the ninth minute of stoppage time, scoring a Panenka penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw for Hungary against Germany in their UEFA Nations League Group A3 match.
Szoboszlai calmly chipped the penalty down the center, leaving German goalkeeper Alexander Nubel helpless, after a VAR review determined Robin Koch had handled Mihaly Kata’s shot. The equalizer denied Germany a perfect campaign in the group stage, although Julian Nagelsmann’s side had already secured top spot and a quarter-final berth.
Germany, making nine changes to their starting lineup, looked set for another victory when Felix Nmecha netted his first international goal. Nmecha reacted quickest to a rebound after Nico Schlotterbeck’s shot was saved by Denes Dibusz in the 25th minute.
Nagelsmann’s experimental lineup included standout performances from Alexander Nubel, who made several key saves, and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, who nearly broke the deadlock with a shot that hit the post shortly after his introduction in the second half.
Germany, unbeaten in the Nations League group phase, now await a quarter-final clash in March against one of Croatia, Italy, or Denmark.
Hungary, finishing third in Group A3, will enter a two-legged relegation play-off in March to retain their place in the top tier of the Nations League. Despite the draw, their spirited performance in Leipzig showcased resilience, with efforts from Andras Schafer, Zsolt Nagy, and Barnabas Varga testing Nubel early on.
Szoboszlai’s late heroics will serve as a morale boost for Hungary as they prepare for the play-offs.
Elsewhere in Group A3, the Netherlands concluded their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Brian Brobbey opened the scoring for the Dutch, but Ermedin Demirovic equalized to secure a point for Bosnia, who were coming off a humiliating 7-0 defeat to Germany.
The Dutch lineup featured appearances from Brentford’s Mark Flekken, Brighton’s Mats Wieffer, and Manchester United’s Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee. Liverpool duo Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo were introduced as substitutes but couldn’t secure a win.
Germany’s quarter-final clash will be a litmus test for Nagelsmann’s evolving squad as they aim for Nations League glory. Hungary, meanwhile, will focus on survival in the top tier, with their play-off opponents to be determined.
