The Republic of Ireland secured a place in the World Cup qualification play-offs with a dramatic 96th-minute winner from Troy Parrott, completing a stunning hat-trick to seal a famous victory at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.

Ireland twice had to come from behind after goals from Lukács and Varga for the hosts, but Parrott delivered a sensational match-winning moment deep into added time. A floated delivery to the back post was met by Liam Scales, whose knockdown fell perfectly for Parrott to steer home and spark jubilant celebrations among the Irish side. The tie also marked the debut of Johnny Kenny who nearly scored a last minute goal of his own only for to be denied by a block by Dibusz.

Heimir Hallgrímsson made one change to the side that defeated Portugal on Thursday at the Aviva Stadium, with Jayson Molumby coming into the starting eleven in place of Jack Taylor, who began the contest on the bench.

Hungary started the brighter of the two teams and took the lead in the 4th minute. A short corner routine between Szoboszlai and Kerkez allowed the latter to deliver to the near post, where Lukács arrived with a diving header to guide the ball past Kelleher.

Ireland responded well and were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute when Szalai fouled Ogbene as he broke into the box. Troy Parrott stepped up, after being handed the ball by Seamus Coleman, and calmly struck a low effort into the bottom-left corner to level the game.

Hungary had a prolonged spell of pressure after the equaliser, with Szoboszlai seeing a goalbound free-kick blocked. Kelleher then produced a stunning save in the 27th minute, reacting superbly to deny Varga’s close-range effort after a cross from Lukács on the right. The Irish goalkeeper was called upon again in the 33rd minute to clear a dangerous second ball under pressure from the onrushing Varga.

The hosts restored their lead in the 36th minute when Kerkez picked out Barnabás Varga with a floated delivery from the right. Varga controlled with his chest before finishing first time with his left foot into the top-right corner. Ireland almost responded instantly, but Parrott’s effort was well saved by Dibusz.

Ireland went inches from equalising just before the break. Finn Azaz cut inside onto his right foot and delivered to the back post, where Jake O’Brien stretched to meet it but could only direct his effort over the bar. Moments later, Azaz had another opportunity from the edge of the area after a long throw, but his half-volley also cleared the crossbar.

Ireland had an early sight on goal in the second half when a weighted ball into the Hungarian area found Troy Parrott, but he couldn’t shake off the attention of Orbán and the danger was eventually cleared by Négo. Hungary responded with attacking pressure of their own as Szoboszlai and Lukács both made advancing runs into the Irish area, though neither produced an effort to trouble Kelleher.

Adam Idah had the ball in the net in the 57th minute after latching onto a superb ball over the top, but the striker was ruled offside. He went close again in the 66th minute when Azaz delivered a cross from the right, but Idah’s header cleared Dibusz’s bar. At the other end, Orbán forced Kelleher into a smart save in the 68th minute after meeting a curling Szoboszlai free kick, the Irish keeper reacting sharply to push the effort away.

Ireland were required to defend superbly in the 73rd minute to prevent a third Hungarian goal after Styles broke forward and slipped the ball to Varga, whose low goalbound strike was brilliantly blocked by Scales. Moments later, Kelleher produced another excellent save at his near post to deny Sallai.

Ireland levelled the tie in the 80th minute with a superb finish from Troy Parrott. Finn Azaz picked out the forward with a perfectly weighted pass over the top and, with the Hungarian defence caught flat-footed, Parrott took the ball down with his first touch and then guided the ball past Dibusz with a composed finish.

Hungary continued to search for a winner and were denied by Kelleher again in the 86th minute as Szoboszlai broke down the left and struck a powerful effort that the Irish keeper pushed away brilliantly for a corner. Ireland then came close themselves in the 88th minute when a Manning free kick found O’Shea at the back post, but his ball across goal was cleared. Substitute Johnny Kenny was denied by a point-blank save from Dibusz in the 90th minute after racing onto a through ball from Manning, only for his first-time effort to be blocked by the Hungarian keeper.

Ireland completed a remarkable comeback in the 96th minute. After receiving the ball just inside his own half Kelleher sent a long ball back into the Hungarian area which was nodded down by Liam Scales, and Troy Parrott reacted quickest, darting across his marker to prod the ball past Dibusz at the far post and send The Boys in Green into the World Cup playoffs.

Hungary: Dibusz (GK), Szalai, Orbán, Négo (Redzic 90), Szoboszlai, Kerkez, Schäfer (Ötvös 63), Lukács (Styles 63), Varga, Sallai (Mocsi 90), Tóth (Bolla 76)

Subs not used: Demjén (GK), Szappanos (GK), Balogh, Vitális, Gruber, Dárdai, Nagy

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Coleman (Ebosele 60), Scales, O’Shea, O’Brien (Manning 46), Cullen (Taylor 80), Parrott, Molumby ((Kenny 60), Azaz, Ogbene (Idah 53), Collins

Subs not used: Bazunu (GK), Travers (GK), Dunne, Coventry, Taylor, Egan, McGrath, Johnston

Booked: Szalai, Varga (Hungary), Scales, Cullen, Ebosele, Parrott (Ireland)

Sent Off: None

Player of the Match: Troy Parrott 

Referee: Espen Eskås (NOR)