Considering where the Republic of Ireland stood after a disastrous opening 45 minutes, this result will almost feel like a victory.
The qualifying campaign was not going to be won or lost on Saturday but considering there are home and away matches against Portugal and a trip to Hungary to come, a defeat would have been a bitter early blow for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side.
The performance will provoke a mix of emotions among the players and coaches. Swept up in the usual excitement and optimism that a new campaign brings, Hallgrimsson remarked in the build-up that his players seem “taller” than when he first met them a year ago.
They did not play like that in the first half. Any positivity drummed up in the preamble was swiftly shattered with the game just 113 seconds old when Varga pounced after Matt Doherty played the striker onside.
The Republic of Ireland have conceded first in all but one of Hallgrimsson’s nine competitive games in charge, but the speed with which Hungary struck was still a shock to Irish hearts.
Worryingly for Hallgrimsson, there was more soft defending on display when captain Nathan Collins failed to get close enough to Sollai for Hungary’s second.
It could have been worse for the hosts had it not been for Varga missing a back-post header before Caoimhin Kelleher reacted sharply to deny Sollai his second.
At the other end, a Republic of Ireland attack shorn of the injured Troy Parrott struggled to lay a glove on Hungary, with Ferguson forcing a save from Dibuz in a rare opening for the 20-year-old striker.
Hallgrimsson has stressed the importance of ‘character’ in this campaign and, much to his relief, the Republic of Ireland showed it in the second half, Ferguson delivering an untidy but effective finish to give the hosts renewed hope.
The flashpoint involving Sallai only swung the game more in the Republic of Ireland’s favour. Naturally, they found it easier playing against 10 men and after knocking on the door for 40-odd minutes, new Swansea City signing Idah was on hand to finish Ryan Manning’s cross and ensure a point apiece.
Being a frenetic World Cup qualifier, there will be plenty for Hallgrimsson to ponder over the next 72 hours.
Despite a backline boasting Premier League experience – not always a given for the Republic of Ireland down the years – they were easily cut open at times in the first half.
But the Icelandic coach will be buoyed with how his side rose to the challenge early in the second half and kept the pressure up until they wore Hungary down.
Whether or not Hallgrimsson shuffles his pack remains to be seen but Idah has clearly staked his claim for a starting berth while Ogbene, who missed much of last season with an Achilles injury, was bright after replacing Doherty.
