Euro 2016 play-offs : Norway 0-1 Hungary

Hungary drew first blood in their Euro 2016 playoffs as debutant Laszlo Kleinheisler struck midway through the first half to down hosts Norway in Oslo and helped his take a huge step towards the finals in France.Norway hogged a mammoth 83% of the ball possession and even created the better chances going forward, but some agonising misses rendered them unable to open their account. The home side then found themselves on the backfoot when a 21-year old Laszlo struck just four minutes from the half-hour mark to give the visitors an all-important away goal.Norway continued to dominate the proceedings, and substitute Pal Andre Helland came close to grabbing the equaliser, but he would be denied by the crossbar in the 88th minute. At the end, the host nation were left staring at yet another term without major football as Hungary held on to seal a 1-0 win that would provide them a huge edge going into the second leg in Budapest this Monday.Here are some of the talking points from the Ullevaal Stadium.

#1 A debut to remember for Laszlo

Kleinheisler scored on his senior International debut to give Hungary a crucial lead ahead of the return leg

Hungarian midfielder Laszlo Kleinheisler made his senior international debut against Norway last night and capped it off with an eye-catching performance that was iced with a goal that would put Hungary through to a win.

In the 26th minute with the tie heavily poised, the Videoton FC man controlled the ball expertly inside the box and fired a dipping shot into the net over the Norway ‘keeper Orjan Nyland. Although the goal was a result of Nyland’s miscued pass at first, Laszlo showed great composure and control to pounce on the error and finish it off.

There were several such limelight grabbing moments from the 21-year old, who was the most potent threat coming from an otherwise toothless visitors. Laszlo was even the cynosure for some of the best chances being created by Hungary and managed to light up the park with some magical first touches and buccaneering runs.

Laszlo Kleinheisler has certainly announced himself to the world in resounding fashion.

#2 Norway pay the penalty for profligacy

Norway were guilty of failing to convert their dominance in possesion into goals

With 83% possession of the ball and a total of 23 shots fired, Norway should have won this game at a canter. The home side dominated the proceedings for large spells of the game as the stats would suggest, but their profligacy with the chances indeed proved too costly in the end.

The Norwegians took the first initiative of the game as early as the third minute when Per Ciljan Skjelbred latched onto a cross inside the box, but wasn’t clinical enough to beat visiting ‘keeper Gabor Kiraly. In the dying embers of the game, Pal Andre Helland was literally served a chance on a platter when a miscue from Kiraly fell to him, but the forward wasted it by blasting his effort against the pole.

In between, Norway won as many as 16 corners, but couldn’t find the net from even one of them. In fact, most of them even failed to clear the first man defending Hungary’s box.

All in all, it was a night to forget for the Scandinavian nation. Had they been more composed and accurate with their chances, it could have been a different ball game altogether.

#3 A perfect way to hit century for Kiraly

Kiraly is just the second Hungarian to reach a century of caps for the national side

While Laszlo Kleinheisler earned his first cap for Hungary in the game, their man in between the sticks, Gabor Kiraly, earned his 100th. The shot-stopper stepped into the international scene for The Magical Megyars back in 1998, and after 17 years stands as only the second man in the history of his country to have at least 100 caps under his belt.

In his centurion game, the 39-year old made some crucial saves to deny Norway and played just an instrumental part in helping his side rack up a win, as Laszlo. With the hosts attacking at full pelt, Kiraly was called into action time and again. Norway threw everything at the visitors but were still unable to beat the strapping Haladas goalkeeper.

For all his dexterity in front of the net, Kiraly even managed to register a clean sheet that will probably prove crucial in the second leg at home.

With this century, the legendary netminder now trails all-time record holder Jozsef Bozsik by just one cap and in all certainty, will draw level with him when he starts for the National Eleven in the reverse fixture this Monday.

#4 Zolton Gera shoots himself in the foot

Hungary will miss the influential Gera’s services in the return leg

At 36, Zolton Gera is one of the veterans in the current Hungary squad and also a guiding light for his fellow compatriots. He has been a knight in shining armor for his side on numerous occasions in the past, but last evening, let his side down by earning himself a silly booking that will keep him out of the second leg in Budapest.

Vying for the ball with Norway’s Alexander Tettey, Gera launched himself into a tackle from behind that floored the Norwegian. It was a reckless challenge from the Hungary midfielder and the referee was left with no choice but to brandish a yellow card that suspends him for the return leg.

With just a booking away from suspension, Gera should have been more cautious in his approach, but his one moment of remiss means he can play no part in the make-or-break clash next week.

#5 An exciting tie awaits at the Ferenc Puskas

Hungary will be hoping to get the job done at home on Monday

Hungary may have stolen a vital away goal from this tie, but the game is still everyone’s to play for. Although the pressure is more on Norway to strike at least twice without conceding more than two, they still have a chance to end their 15 year wait for another appearance in a major international jamboree.

Norway were last seen in the Euro 2000, where they quietly exited in the first round itself, whereas, for Hungary, the Central European nation hasn’t made the grade to any majors since the 1986 World Cup. So that's quite some time we've seen either of the sides participate at the international stage.

So with the aim of breaking the duck, both sides are set to go all guns blazing in the Ferenc Puskas Arena, Budapest on Monday. A draw of any scoreline would see Hungary through, but losing after conceding two or more goals will see their long wait for major football, prolong.