Cruel Iceland own goal puts Hungary on brink of last 16 after draw

Icelandic hearts were broken in Marseille on Saturday, when Birkir Saevarsson desperately slid a Nemanja Nikolic cross into his own net on 88 minutes, denying his side a miraculous win over Hungary.

But Iceland almost made it 2-1 with the last kick of the game, as 37-year-old Eidur Gudjohnsson - two decades after he replaced his father on the pitch for international debut - saw his deflected shot go narrowly wide.

The dramatic draw was met with jubilant scenes from the Hungarian players at the final whistle, as the Stade Velodrome test left it boasting four Group F points - which should be enough for a best third-placed finish and progression - ahead of arguably its toughest tilt against Portugal next Wednesday.

Its opponent, meanwhile has two points after an incredible draw with Portugal and this weekend's result.

Iceland played a narrow and compact system in the opening half, with its most likely sources of penetration coming from winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson or the throw-ins and physicality of Aron Gunnarsson, who looks and hurls as if he's following his country's long line of World's Strongest Man winners.

Hungary had slightly the better chances of the first stanza, but Gabor Kiraly's fumble and Tamas Kadar's subsequent clumsy upending of Gunnarsson resulted in Gylfi Sigurdsson handing Iceland the lead from the penalty spot on 40 minutes.

As it did for sustained periods of its opening draw against Portugal, Iceland then shut up shop in the second half, standing firm for constant swathes of Hungarian attacks.

That was until Emil Hallfredsson fell asleep in Iceland's previous unimpeachable defensive line, however. The Udinese veteran's lapse allowed Nikolic to break free and force the unfortunate Saevarsson into his blunder, but Daniel Bode would've undeniably tucked in if the Hammarby IF defender didn't act.

Iceland's support can rightly feel aggrieved after Saturday's late show. Two performances of defensive work only rivalled by Italy at Euro 2016 has yielded just two points. Next Wednesday's meeting with Austria is pivotal in who vaults from Group F and into the knockout rounds.

Hungary, meanwhile, is on the brink of the tournament's Round of 16 after confounding expectations in its first European Championship campaign in 44 years.