Agency :
Portugal were forced to delay punching their World Cup ticket after being held to a 2-2 home draw by Hungary in Tuesday’s qualifier as Dominik Szoboszlai struck a stoppage-time equalizer after two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo had put the hosts ahead.
Portugal could have sealed a place at next year’s finals in the US, Canada and Mexico with a victory that would have clinched top spot in Group F.
But they will now have to wait until November, sitting on 10 points from four matches, five ahead of Hungary, with both teams having two games remaining. Ireland are third with four points.
Hungary opened the scoring after eight minutes as Attila Szalai rose above Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva to head in his first competitive goal for the national team.
However, the 40-year-old Ronaldo became the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers with his 40th goal in the 22nd minute, tapping in the equalizer to surpass retired Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz.
Ronaldo then scored his 41st World Cup qualifying goal, completing the turnaround deep into the first-half stoppage time with another tap-in to send Portugal into the break ahead.
