Chipciu salvages Romania draw in Hungary

An added-time strike from substitute Alexandru Chipciu rescued a point for Romania as they twice came from behind to draw with Hungary in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group D.

Adrian Mutu cancelled out Vilmos Vanczák's first-half header with a 68th-minute penalty, only for Balázs Dzsudzsák to restore the hosts' advantage via a spot kick of his own. However Chipcui denied Hungary at the last, capitalising on uncertainty in the hosts' defence. Both sides, in second and third respectively, are now five points behind section leaders the Netherlands.

Hungary took a 16th-minute lead when Tamás Hajnal's inswinging free-kick was nodded in off a post by Vanczák. It was to be their only effort on target in the first half, but Ádám Szalai could have changed that statistic had he not scooped Dzsudzsák's pass centimetres wide of Ciprian Tătăruşanu's right-hand upright from the edge of the penalty area.

Hungary started the second half strongly and Szalai again might have made it 2-0 just after the hour, his close-range header from Ádám Pintér's cross flying wide. The hosts paid for that profligacy when Zsolt Korcsmár fouled Mutu and the visiting captain dispatched the resulting penalty.

Sándor Egervári's men regained the advantage when Dzsudzsák converted from the spot after Korcsmár had been fouled by Alexandru Bourceanu, but ultimately it was to no avail. Chipciu ensured a share of the points when a long ball caused confusion in the Hungary defence and he slotted under Gábor Király.