Republic of Ireland 2-2 Hungary Player Ratings: Ryan Manning 8.5/10 Rated as Idah's Late Header Secures Dramatic 2-2 Draw

What a rollercoaster we've just witnessed at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland. This was a game of two halves defined by one moment of madness. Hungary went all guns blazing in the first half itself. They stunned the home crowd with two goals in the opening 15 minutes. Barnabás Varga struck first, and then Roland Sallai headed in a second. The Republic of Ireland looked completely lost. The game plan was in tatters.

Then came the turning point in the tale. A reckless challenge from Roland Sallai early in the second half saw him receive a straight red card. Suddenly, there was hope. Ireland smelled blood. Almost immediately, Evan Ferguson scrambled one home to make it 2-1. From then on, it was one-way traffic. The Boys in Green threw everything at the ten men of Hungary. Just when it seemed like time was running out, a substitute became the hero. Adam Idah rose highest in the 92nd minute to head home the equalizer. Absolute scenes. A point snatched from the jaws of defeat in this vital WC Qualification Europe match. Hungarian football players did all they could to win the game, but the Irish team was equally good at seeing out danger. Here are the Republic of Ireland vs Hungary player ratings.

Republic of Ireland National Football Team Player Ratings vs Hungary

Here are the Republic of Ireland player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Caoimhín Kelleher - 6.5: He was left completely exposed for both early goals. Couldn't do much about either strike. What stood out to us was his response. He didn't let his head drop. Kelleher made four crucial saves inside the box. His save to deny Bolla in the second half was vital. It kept Ireland's comeback hopes alive.

Defenders

Matt Doherty - 5.5: A difficult evening for Doherty. He seemed a step off the pace in the first half. Hungary's early pressure clearly unsettled him. He was okay in possession but offered little going forward. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted after 66 minutes.

Dara O'Shea - 7.5: An absolute warrior at the back. When his team was crumbling, he stood tall. We noticed he won a staggering 10 aerial duels. He was immense in the air all game. O'Shea also created three chances, showing his quality on the ball. A true leader's performance under pressure.

Jake O'Brien - 6.0: A shaky start for the debutant. He lost possession far too often in the first half. However, he grew into the contest significantly. As Ireland pushed on, he looked more composed. He won his fair share of aerial battles. It was a tough debut, but he didn't hide.

Nathan Collins - 7.0: Wore the captain's armband with pride. He provided a crucial assist to get Ireland back in the game. Defensively he was solid, making four clearances. He did pick up a late yellow card for his troubles. From our perspective, he showed great heart and determination.

Midfielders

Ryan Manning - 8.5: Our man of the match. What a phenomenal performance from the left flank. His delivery for the last-gasp equalizer was pure perfection. He created four chances and whipped in nine accurate crosses. He was Ireland's most potent attacking threat all night. An outstanding display of quality and desire.

Josh Cullen - 5.5: A surprisingly quiet game from Cullen. He failed to get a grip on the midfield battle early on. The game seemed to pass him by. He was booked for a clumsy foul. It felt like the right decision to sub him off.

Sammie Szmodics - 6.0: Full of running as always. Szmodics worked tirelessly for the team. However, his final product was missing. He got into some promising positions but couldn't find the killer pass or shot. A frustrating night for him personally.

Jason Knight - 7.0: A typically energetic performance from Knight. His 96% pass accuracy was impressive under pressure. He won seven of his eight duels, showing his tenacity. He kept the ball moving and helped drive the team forward. A really solid and reliable outing.

Forwards

Evan Ferguson - 7.5: He got the all-important first goal for Ireland. It was a poacher's finish that sparked the comeback. He battled tirelessly against a physical Hungarian defence. Sometimes he was a bit isolated. His yellow card was unnecessary, but his goal was priceless.

Finn Azaz - 6.5: He looked lively and was not afraid to take players on. Azaz created a couple of chances for his teammates. However, he will be kicking himself for missing a big chance early on. The final piece of the puzzle just wasn't there for him tonight.

Substitutes

Adam Idah - 8.0: The super sub and the hero of the hour. He came on and did exactly what was asked of him. He was a physical presence and a nuisance. His powerful header in injury time was simply magnificent. That's how you make an impact.

Chiedozie Ogbene - 6.5: Brought pace and directness when he came on. He immediately gave Hungary's tired defenders a new problem to solve. He won a couple of key free-kicks in dangerous areas.

Jack Taylor - 6.0: Replaced Cullen and added a bit more stability to the midfield. He was neat and tidy in possession. He helped Ireland maintain pressure in the final stages.

Manager

Heimir Hallgrímsson - 7.0: The initial game plan was a disaster. Ireland were all at sea and 2-0 down. But we have to give him immense credit. His substitutions were spot on. Bringing on Idah and Ogbene changed the dynamic of the attack completely. He salvaged a point from a losing position.

Hungary National Football Team Player Ratings vs Republic of Ireland

Here are the Hungary player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Dénes Dibusz - 7.0: A very busy night for the Hungarian keeper. He made six saves, some of which were top-class. He was commanding his area well until the very end. He couldn't have done much about either of the goals he conceded. A strong performance despite the result.

Defenders

Attila Szalai - 5.0: A night to forget for Szalai. While his 17 clearances look good on paper, he looked frantic. He was constantly under pressure and struggled. He gave away fouls and picked up a booking. Just a really tough outing for him.

Willi Orbán - 7.0: The best of a stretched Hungarian defence. Orbán was a calm head in the storm. He won six of his seven duels and made nine clearances. He read the game expertly. A very professional and solid defensive display.

Loïc Nego - 5.5: He had a torrid time, especially in the second half. He struggled to cope with Ireland's wingers. He lost six of his ten duels. He made some important clearances but was often on the back foot. A really challenging defensive shift.

Milos Kerkez - 6.0: Looked decent before he was substituted. He had a very high pass completion rate. He didn't make any major errors. His substitution was likely tactical after the red card. A steady, if unspectacular, performance.

Midfielders

Dominik Szoboszlai - 7.0: Pure class in the first half. His cross for the second goal was sublime. As captain, he led by example early on. After the red card, his influence waned as he was forced into more defensive work. He still showed moments of quality.

Bendegúz Bolla - 7.0: A real livewire for Hungary. He was a constant threat on the break. He forced Kelleher into a couple of really good saves. We were surprised to see him taken off. He looked like Hungary's best chance for a third goal.

Callum Styles - 7.5: An excellent all-around midfield display. He grabbed an assist and created three chances. He also mucked in defensively with three interceptions. He was a key player for Hungary at both ends of the pitch. He can be very proud of his performance.

Alex Tóth - 4.5: From our perspective, he was the weakest link. He made an error that led to a shot. His passing was poor and he lost possession too easily. It was no surprise he was the first player substituted. A game he will want to forget quickly.

Roland Sallai - 4.0: The villain of the piece for Hungary. He scored a fantastic header to put his team 2-0 up. He looked like a world-beater. Then, a moment of absolute madness. His straight red card was reckless and unnecessary. It completely cost his team the three points.

Forwards

Barnabás Varga - 7.5: A classic number nine performance. He took his goal extremely well to open the scoring. He was a physical handful for the Irish defence all game. He won a huge number of aerial duels. He held the ball up brilliantly before being subbed.

Substitutes

Zsolt Nagy - 6.0: Came on to shore up the defence. He did his job diligently.

Barna Tóth - 5.5: Brought on to help defensively but ended up getting a yellow card.

Attila Mocsi - 6.0: Added fresh legs to a tiring backline and helped repel Irish attacks.

Bence Ötvös - 5.5: Tried to help see the game out but struggled to get involved.

Manager

Marco Rossi - 6.5: His game plan worked to perfection for 50 minutes. His team was clinical and deserved their 2-0 lead. The red card completely torpedoed his strategy. His defensive substitutions almost worked. He was desperately unlucky not to come away with a win.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Ryan Manning