Savage skirmish spoils Wales win

14 April 2012

Robbie Savage can add Lothar Matthaus to his growing list of adversaries after the former Germany captain, now manager of Hungary, ran on to the field to confront the Birmingham midfielder at the end of Wales' terrific victory in the Ferenc Puskas Stadium last night.

Having seen the Hungary side he has been in charge of for only four games lose to goals from Jason Koumas and Robert Earnshaw, Matthaus lost his cool as the game turned a little ugly in the final minutes.

For once, Savage appeared to be a victim as Hungary defender Zoltan Peto and then Matthaus challenged him before and after the final whistle.

Wales coach Mark Hughes was in no doubt who had been the aggressors during a game that served to increase further his team's stature in world football.

Hughes said: 'Some of the things that were going on out there showed the distasteful side of football. My players told me that they were being spat on through the game and things like that. That is not acceptable.

'Lothar certainly didn't seem to be pleased, did he? But he was just trying to deflect attention away from the fact that his team hadn't played well.

'Maybe Lothar hadn't heard of Robbie before. He certainly has now. We are all professional people, but some of the things that happened upset my players and they reacted to that. If that's wrong then I apologise, but I don't think that it is.'

As Savage was led away to the safety of the dressing room, Matthaus produced a verbal attack in the post-match Press conference.

He said: 'Robbie Savage was very provocative tonight. The Wales players were talking to the referee all night. My players were just getting on with their game. Maybe my team have to learn a lesson from that.'

The end to the game was out of character with what had gone before and it is unfortunate that the melee that followed the final whistle will take a little of the attention away from a terrific Wales performance.

Arriving in Hungary without 13 regular players and still carrying a little of the pain of their Euro 2004 play- off defeat to Russia, this was a performance hewn from immense character.

Having fallen behind in the 17th minute when a Danny Gabbidon foul allowed Krisztian Kenesei to score from the penalty spot, Wales looked as though the evening was going to be a difficult one. But Hughes's team rallied and were more than a match for their opponents from then on.

Key to the Wales recovery was their prompt reply. Earnshaw was fouled clumsily by Laszlo Bodnar 25 yards from goal and West Bromwich Albion midfielder Koumas - perhaps the best player outside the Premiership - struck a splendid free-kick into the net off the goalkeeper's lefthand post.

A draw would have represented a terrific result for Hughes and his players but they snatched victory with nine minutes left.

Zsolt Low's sliced clearance gave Earnshaw his chance and the Cardiff striker took it marvellously.

Breaking clear, Earnshaw - scorer of a hat-trick against Scotland in February - looked set to shoot with his left foot but instead cut back inside Low to beat goalkeeper Gabor Babos with his right. It was a terrific goal from a player who continues to blossom for club and country. With Newcastle's Craig Bellamy blighted by injury, it could be that the 22-year-old striker finds himself in his nation's first team when World Cup qualifying begins in September.

Hughes said: 'My players were terrific. They came here and put their heads above the parapet and were rewarded.'

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Savage skirmish spoils Wales win

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