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Remarkable Troy Parrott hat-trick secures World Cup play-off on magical night in Budapest

Updated / Sunday, 16 Nov 2025 18:57
Matchwinner Troy Parrott celebrats in the Puskas Arena
Matchwinner Troy Parrott celebrats in the Puskas Arena

Ireland's World Cup dream is alive and well after a remarkable, come-from-behind victory in Budapest, beating Hungary 3-2 at the Puskas Arena.

Troy Parrott proved the hat-trick hero as the Dubliner pounced in the dying seconds to secure the result that was needed to take Ireland to the March play-offs.

Latching on to Liam Scales' flick-on, the Dubliner's first-time finish was the definitive act of a breathless qualifier, which saw the Boys in Green secure a play-off place that seemed highly unlikely once Hungary took a 2-1 lead late in the first half.

Hungary had taken an early lead through Daniel Lukacs, before Parrott converted a penalty in the 15th minute.

But Hungary went back in front eight minutes before the break thanks to a wonder goal from Barnabas Varga, leaving Ireland with it all to do in the second half.

Parrott would level the game in the 80th minute, but Ireland still needed another, and it duly arrived with almost the last kick of the game on a remarkable afternoon in the Hungarian capital.

Just like the game in Dublin, Ireland were caught cold in the opening exchanges as Hungary raced into the lead from a well-worked short corner.

Ireland perhaps distracted by lots of pushing and shoving inside the six-yard box, before Hungary went short and Dominik Szoboszlai's whipped delivery was helped home by a fine Lukacs header.

It took Ireland ten minutes to get going and eventually worked the ball up left with Parrott showing well to win a corner.

From the setpiece, Scales kept the ball in play and worked it back into the mix leading to a half-chance for Chiedozie Ogbene to swivel and shoot, but his effort was well blocked.

Then two minutes later, Ogbene’s pace caused problems as he raced into the box and appeared to be impeded as he looked to shoot.

The referee waved play on but was subsequently summoned to the monitor as VAR had deemed in an infringement and the penalty was awarded.

Ferocious challenges going in from both sides in opening exchanges and that lack of composure from Attila Szalai cost the home side on that occasion.

Parrott would take the responsibility and after standing over the ball for what seems like an age, he then dragged it low and hard to the keeper’s right. Denes Dibusz guessed correctly but was beaten by the pace.

The vocal home support silenced as Come On You Boys In Green rang out from the top tier of the massive arena

Ireland were now starting to play with a bit more confidence, with Ogbene noticeably higher up the pitch linking up with Parrott, but there was little to show for their endeavours

Hungary, meanwhile, were finding their groove again midway through the half and remained patient on the ball with everything going through Szoboszlai who was conducting play from a very deep position.

And when they did work it between the lines, they looked dangerous, and then a whipped delivery forced Caoimhin Kelleher to make a wonderful save from point blank range to deny Sallai in the 28th minute.

Then in the 37th minute, out of nothing, Hungary took the lead once more.

A harmless floated ball into the edge of the box, but somehow Nathan Collins stood off and allowed Varga to collect unchallenged.

The bounce sat up perfectly for the Ferencvaros attacker and he executed an unstoppable left-footed half-volley which flew into the top corner of the net with Kelleher unable to get close.

Ireland looked for a response as half-time approached, and while they managed to exert an element of pressure in and around the box, they were unable to test the keeper with Finn Azaz lofting the ball to Jake O’Brien at the back post but the defender was unable to hit the target.

So with 45 minutes to play, once more, the match mirrored that of Dublin as Ireland needed two goals to get what they needed from the contest. Szalai, the man deemed to have fouled Ogbene for the penalty was booked just before the break, and perhaps lucky to be still on the pitch by escaping an earlier caution.

Ryan Manning was sent on at the break, and Adam Idah shortly after, replacing O’Brien and Ogbene, as Ireland looked to play a more attacking style in search of those required goals.

And Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side almost enjoyed the perfect start to the second half as a free into the box was helped into the path of Parrott who span in possession, but the ball just would not sit up for a shot as Hungary cleared.

Hungary remained dangerous going forward with Szoboszlai still causing problems with his trickery and clever playmaking.

Idah would then put the ball in the net in the 58th minute but was eventually flagged for offside and VAR was not really needed as the striker had clearly gone too early.

Festy Ebosele and Johnny Kenny were then sent on for the final 30 minutes with Ireland going "all-in" as they had in the Dublin clash.

But the cushion of being in control allowed Hungary to maintain their attacking approach, looking to exploit space as Ireland played that bit higher up the pitch.

Idah would again challenge in the 67th minute as he connected with a ball in from the right, but his header looped over the bar.

Willi Orban’s 69th-minute header from a free was the only chance of note the home side could produce, and that was easily saved by Kelleher; Hungary happy, it would appear, to sit in and absorb the expected Ireland pressure.

But then two chances in a minute showed that Hungary were still dangerous, and it took a fine block by Scales to deny Varga, before Kelleher had to be alert to tip the striker’s venomous shot over the bar.

The game was approaching the 80th minute and it was now the home side that were playing with a confidence that they would be hoping to take into the March play-offs.

But perhaps just touch too early as Parrott popped up to level the tie, latching onto a great through-ball from Azaz, and suddenly there was a sharp intake of breath inside the Budapest venue.

Ireland were now pushing forward at every opportunity, gambling on leaving space, and Hungary did enjoy a great chance to win it in the 86th minute as Szoboszlai forced another good save from Kelleher.

Then in the 88th minute an Ireland free into the box just evaded Idah, before O’Shea’s drilled effort across the face was booted clear from inside the six-yard box.

Ninety minutes on the clock as Kenny latched onto the ball over the last line and while he did everything right, slapping the ball low and hard on target, Dibusz got a bit strong arm on the ball to do enough to keep it out.

Five minutes were added as Ireland maintained the pressure inside the final third, and while a couple of long throws were arrowed into the area, they failed to do damage.

Deep, deep into the allotted extra and with the crowd baying for the final whistle, Ireland launched one last attack, and as the ball was helped on inside the box, Parrott threw every inch of himself at the hopping ball and somehow got the vital touch to help it home.

Deathly silence greeted the goal aside from the Irish fans going ballistic in the nosebleed seats at the opposite end, and as Hungary gave it one last push, it was not enough and the final whistle sounded to bring and end to this dramatic World Cup campaign.

Hungary: 1 Denes Dibusz; 4 Attila Szalai, 6 Willi Orban, 7 Loic Nego (Attila Mocsi 90), 11 Milos Kerkez; 13 Andras Schafer (Callum Styles 63), 10 Dominik Szoboszlai, 21 Alex Toth (Bendeguz Bolla 76); 16 Daniel Lukacs (Bence Otvos 63), 20 Roland Sallai (Damir Redzic 90), 19 Barnabas Varga

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; Seamus Coleman (Festy Ebosele 60), Liam Scales, Dara O'Shea, Nathan Collins, Jake O'Brien (Ryan Manning HT); Josh Cullen (Jack Taylor 80), Jayson Molumby (Johnny Kenny 60), Finn Azaz, Chiedozie Ogbene (Adam Idah 53); Troy Parrott

Referee: Espen Eskas (NOR)

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