Austria, coached by Marcel Koller who played under Roy Hodgson for Switzerland, were reduced to 10 men three minutes later and, as they pushed forward were killed off on the break by Zoltan Steiber in the 88th minute.
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In the second half, they came out guns blazing and were rewarded in the 62nd minute when the ball fell kindly for Szalai to poke home from inside the box, after Austria failed to clear a corner.
Things went from bad to worse for Austria when defender Aleksander Dragovic headed for the showers after a second yellow card deep in Hungary’s half.
Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly kept a clean sheet as he became the first 40-year-old to feature at the European Championship, surpassing Germany’s Lothar Matthaus as the oldest player in tournament history.
Hungary will face Iceland on Sunday in Marseilles, while the Austrians have what could be a must-win clash against group favorites Portugal the same day in Paris.
Austria and Hungary are even at 0-0 at halftime at the European Championship.
Alaba is expected to push forward in support of Marc Janko, who will lead the attack today, while the Bayern star player will be in charge of taking the free-kicks in and around the 18-yard box.
Hungary had an opportunity of their own in the fourth minute when Laszlo Kleinheisler struck one from distance, but it was a comfortable save for Robert Almer in the Austrian net. It was the first goal in 41 matches for Szalai.
Hungary’s Adam Szalai, right, celebrates with his teammate Krisztian Nemeth after scoring, during the Euro 2016 Group F soccer match between Austria and Hungary at the Nouveau Stade in Bordeaux, France, Tuesday, June 14, 2016.
Austria made their final change in the 78th minute, replacing Harnik with Schopf, while Kleinheisler was replaced by Stieber for Hungary. Both teams will be looking to open their Euro 2016 campaign with a win. He dived to block a shot from Zlatko Junuzovic in the 35th minute and smothered a shot from David Alaba in the 10th.
Kiraly has had a nomadic career that has taken Hungary’s most-capped player to nine different clubs including Hertha Berlin, Crystal Palace and 1860 Munich.
The versatile Alaba, operating in his customary central midfield role with Austria, soon fired another warning to Hungary with a first-time strike at Kiraly after a threaded pass through from Marko Arnautovic.
“At the beginning we were concentrated and I think we deserved this victory”.
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With 5 minutes remaining of the first half Harnick should have done better for Austria but he could not capitalise from Arnautovic’s cross.
