Türkiye’s National Team made history on Sunday night, securing a place in UEFA Nations League A for the first time with a commanding 3-0 victory over Hungary in the second leg of the play-offs at Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
Having already taken a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Istanbul, Vincenzo Montella’s men delivered another composed and clinical performance to seal the tie 6-1 on aggregate.
Goals from captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu (pen. 37’), rising star Arda Güler (39’), and a stoppage-time strike from Abdülkerim Bardakcı (90’) saw Türkiye through in style.
The match was attended by Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, TFF President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu, Hungarian Football Federation President Sándor Csányi, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Hungary Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, and senior officials from both federations.
Tactical Discipline, Clinical Finishing
The Crescent-Stars demonstrated maturity and tactical discipline throughout the contest. Çalhanoğlu opened the scoring from the spot after Kerem Aktürkoğlu was brought down in the box, before Arda Güler curled in a stunning second just two minutes later to deflate the home side.
Despite several substitutions from Hungary in the second half, Türkiye remained in control. Bardakcı’s late goal capped off a flawless away performance and sealed a historic promotion to the elite tier of European national football.
A Milestone Moment
This triumph marks a major milestone for Turkish football, with the national team now set to compete among Europe’s top sides in the next edition of the UEFA Nations League. It is a testament to the growth and ambition of the squad under Montella’s leadership.
Match Details
Stadium: Puskás Aréna, Budapest
Referees: Felix Zwayer, Robert Kempter, Christian Dietz (Germany)
Hungary XI: Dibusz, Fiola (46’ Nego), Orban, M. Dardai (61’ Szalai), Bolla, B. Dardai (46’ Nikitscher), Vecsei (74’ Csoboth), Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Gazdag (60’ Toth), Varga
Türkiye XI: Uğurcan Çakır, Mert Müldür, Samet Akaydin, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Eren Elmalı, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, İsmail Yüksek (46’ Salih Özcan), Oğuz Aydın (71’ Deniz Gül), Arda Güler (64’ İrfan Can Kahveci), Kenan Yıldız (82’ Yusuf Akçiçek), Kerem Aktürkoğlu (64’ Barış Alper Yılmaz)
Goals: Çalhanoğlu (37’ pen.), Güler (39’), Bardakcı (90’) – Türkiye
Yellow Cards: Fiola (21’), M. Dardai (52’), Orban (59’), Varga (72’) – Hungary; İ. Yüksek (30’), Aktürkoğlu (43’), Bardakcı (72’) – Türkiye