Király warns: Hungary not through yet
Friday, November 13, 2015
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"We have to forget about this match now and focus on the second leg," Gábor Király told UEFA.com after keeping a clean sheet in Hungary's 1-0 win in Norway.
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A 1-0 victory in Norway has left Hungary on the brink of a first major tournament in three decades, but goalkeeper Gábor Király is not celebrating just yet.
The 39-year-old, who is back in Hungary and Haladás this season after 18 campaigns in England and Germany, rolled back the years in Oslo. Wearing his famous long grey jogging bottoms, he was on his game from the off, denying the hosts the dream start they craved as he tipped Per Ciljan Skjelbred's early effort over the bar.
That save, and further heroics against Alexander Søderlund and Stefan Johansen in particular, set the platform for a win secured through debutant Lázló Kleinheisler's goal midway through the first half.
Király, though, has been around long enough to know that the job is not done yet. "Winning was important, but we have to forget about this match now and focus on the second leg," Király told UEFA.com. "We have to recuperate quickly."
A three-day turnaround will certainly test everyone's powers of recovery but the prospect of a place at UEFA EURO 2016 and the presence of a partisan crowd in Budapest on Sunday will provide extra energy. Király is certain Hungary have what it takes to defend their lead. "We are a strong team. Now we just have to show that in Hungary, too."