With the first test in Group C against France in Kazan now less than a week away, Australia looked to be heading for a draw until Arzani’s strike, before the two sides exchanged late own goals.
Arzani’s (pictured below) introduction and impact will please coach Bert van Marwijk and Aussie fans, with the Melbourne City attacker coming off the bench in the 73rd minute and scoring inside two minutes when he unleashed a shot from outside the box which dipped in front of goalkeeper Denes Dibusz.
It then looked as if the game was headed for a draw when central defender Trent Sainsbury was involved in an unfortunate late mix up with goalkeeper Brad Jones to score an 88th minute own goal.
But it was then another own goal, this time by Hungary captain Tamas Kadar, which capped off a near three-week training block with their second win in as many tune-up games following last week’s triumph over the Czech Republic.
Arzani was also involved in the eventual winner, playing a through ball in for fellow substitute Jackson Irvine who fizzed a ball across goal which saw Kadar turn the ball into his own net in the second minute of added time.
The Socceroos will now travel to Kazan for their final days of training before facing France on June 16. That will be followed by ties against Denmark (June 21) and Peru (June 26).
Sources: www.socceroos.com.au, AFP