Hungary 3-3 Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice to send Fernando Santos' side through to last-16 of Euro 2016
- Former West Brom and Fulham player Zoltan Gera gave Hungary the lead after 19 minutes
- Nani levelled before half-time but Portugal went behind again after half-time when Balazs Dzsudzsak scored
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first of the Group F match when he managed to pull off an outrageous backheel
- Dzsudzsak put Hungary ahead again just minutes later before Ronaldo made it 3-3 in the 61st minute
- Hungary finish as Group F winners and will play the runners-up of Group E, while Portugal play Croatia
DAILY MAIL
Remember Cristiano Ronaldo before all that bad stuff started happening?
Before insulting the nation of Iceland, missing a vital penalty and throwing a reporter's microphone into a lake?
The heroic striker, preening and posing, scoring goals and winning football matches?
Cristiano Ronaldo performed his trademark celebration after levelling the game for the second time to help Portugal progress
Ronaldo was mobbed by his team-mates when his header beat Gabor Kiraly in the Hungary goal and saved his side from elimination
The Real Madrid star didn't have it all his way, though, and reacted angrily when Portugal went 3-2 down after 54 minutes to Hungar
Well, he's back. Not quite winning, but drawing at least that was enough as it turned out to save his team from disaster like a Portuguese re-make of Superman III.
In the most thrilling game of Euro 2016, Ronaldo scored twice and created one for Nani as he inspired his team back from the brink of elimination against Hungary.
Three times the Hungarians led and Portugal, flawed and chaotic at times in defence, stared at the ignominy of an early exit.
Three times, Ronaldo hauled them back. In doing so, he became the first player to score in four different European Championship finals, and moved within one of Michel Platini's record of nine goals in the Euros.
He also set a new record for appearances in the tournament with 17, moving ahead of Edwin van der Sar and Lilian Thuram.
'It's another record but that comes naturally,' said Ronaldo. 'I can't say I'm not happy but the priority was to make it through.
'It was an insane match. We were in dire straits. We wanted to win but three times we were going home and three times we made it back.'
Real Madrid's Pepe is brought to the ground after being tackled by Gergo Lovrencsics during the first half of the Group F game
Portuguese winger and former Manchester United player Nani attempts to get across Richard Guzmics during Thursday's match
Gera broke the deadlock when his left-footed effort from outside the Portugal penalty area arrowed into the bottom left corner
Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio couldn't get down quick enough to the ball as he attempted to save Gera's well-timed strike
The 37-year-old's celebration showed exactly what the goal meant to him after putting his country ahead midway into the first half
Of course, it was not entirely all his doing. Nani's goal was vital at a time, Joao Mario excelled in the second-half and the introduction of Ricardo Quaresma made a difference.
Yet, after starting the tournament so miserably, it was a reminder of the difference Ronaldo can make.
Portugal squeezed through despite no wins, three draws and three points. It was enough to secure a last-16 tie with Croatia in Lens, on Saturday.
'Not every team beats Spain,' said Ronaldo. 'They have so we respect them. We know our worth and we will look them in the eyes.'
Great credit is also deserved by Hungary, who were already sure of progress and rested players, but took the lead three times and finished as winners of a tight Group F.
Zoltan Gera fired them into the lead and Balazs Dzsudzsak scored twice, both times with the help of deflections.
All this despite making five changes. Four Hungary players were starting their first game in the tournament as Bernd Storck omitted those on yellow cards.
Even so, they took the lead with the crispest of half-volleys from 37-year-old Gera, once of West Bromwich Albion.
Ronaldo headed a Hungary corner out and Nani flicked it on but only to Gera who took a touch on his chest and fizzed it low though a crowd with his left foot.
In the stands, the wild celebrations included more flares and there could be another UEFA fine. Not that they will care.
After 30 years without qualifying for a major tournament, Hungary are making their presence known again. Akos Elek almost made it 2-0 before Portugal responded.
Ronaldo's body language is plain awful at times but he keeps going and his team-mates tolerate his antics. Three free-kicks missed. The best of them, saved by Gabor Kiraly.
Nani had one ruled out for offside before he struck, three minutes before half-time, when his sprint right-to-left across Hungary's back-four was picked out by Ronaldo. The pass was perfect and Nani found a gap at Kiraly's near-post.
Gera (centre) celebrates with his Hungary team-mates after the former West Brom and Fulham forward broke the deadlock
Real Madrid star Ronaldo was left upset and frustrated after watching his side concede the first goal of the match
Nani levelled the game when his left-footed effort beat Gabor Kiraly to give Portugal a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages
Nani punched the air with both of his fists as he left the Hungary players dumbstruck as they felt the momentum start to turn against them
The former Manchester United player, who now plays Fenerbahce, celebrates with his fellow countrymen Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho
Balazs Dzsudzsak lifts his free-kick over the top of the Portugal wall and outside of Ronaldo who tried to block its route towards goal
Goalkeeper Rui Patricio was unable to get to Dzsudzsak's powerful effort as it nestled in the back of his net to lead 2-1 after 46 minutes
Dzsudzsak points to the Hungary supporters as many of them jumped back up in celebration shortly after sitting down after half-time
Within two minutes of the restart, Hungary were back in front when a free-kick from captain Dzsudzsak lined it up clipped Andre Gomes in the defensive wall and deceived Rui Patricio.
This was the first of four goals in an extraordinary quarter of an hour.
The next was Ronaldo's first of the tournament, an explosion of pace and a stylish back-heeled flick to convert a cross from the right by Mario.
Surely the momentum would wing to Portugal from this point? Wrong. Patricio was beaten again by Dzsudzsak from long range, this time his effort clipped Nani on a leg, skidded into the turf and swerved violently past the 'keeper.
Quaresma had been on the pitch for only a matter of seconds when he delivered an exquisite cross for Ronaldo's second, a powerful header from six yards.
Ronaldo tried an outrageous backheel and managed to pull it off to level the game at 2-2 after 49 minutes at the Stade des Lumieres
Kiraly failed to get anywhere near the ball as it glided into the goalkeeper's right-hand corner as the score became 2-2
The match took yet another turn, though, when Dzsudzsak put his side ahead after some very poor defending by Portugal
Dzsudzsak, clearly a fan favourite, embraces one of Hungary's fans after scoring in the tournament's most thrilling game so far
'Ronaldo is a world-class player and a very dangerous player and you cannot control him all the time,' said Hungary boss Storck, who settled for the draw as the clock ticked down.
Unsure what was happening between Iceland and Austria, Ronaldo rushed to retrieve the ball from the net. He fancied a hat-trick and almost completed it.
Twice more he went close but he had kept the dream alive for Portugal. And he's back in business.
'This is what he's all about,' said boss Fernando Santos. 'He needs to score because he's a winner. He plays up front and if he feeds on goals. He's a determined and confident player but this will increase those levels.'
Ronaldo saved his side again when his well-timed, powerful header was enough to beat Kiraly and brought the scoreline level at 3-3
Ronaldo clenches his fist and spends a moment alone after he gave his nation's supporters another reason to be hopeful
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