An effervescent Yugoslavia crushed Hungary in their World Cup European zone play-off in Budapest last night, Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic blasting a hat-trick as the visitors ran riot to win 7-1.
The outcome was never in doubt once Branko Brnovic opened the scoring for the Yugoslavs in the second minute.
Barely had their stunned hosts side drawn breath than Miroslav Djukic popped up with number two on six minutes and Dejan Savicevic effectively killed the tie with the third after just 10 minutes.
The one-way traffic continued as Mijatovic hit a fourth on 26 minutes before making it 5-0 three minutes before the break.
And the goal-happy centre forward completed his hat-trick in the 51st minute before strike partner Savo Milosevic of Aston Villa made it seven after 65 minutes. Bela Illes pulled back a consolation for Hungary with just seconds remaining.
Yugoslavia missed out on an automatic berth in next summer's finals in France after finishing second to Spain in their qualifying group. But they can finally claim a place following the second leg in a fortnight's time which is now a formality.
Hungary: Safar; Banfi, Halmai, Kereszturi, Lorincz, Lipcsei, Dombi, Sebok, Orosz, Nyilas, Klausz. Subs: Mracsko for Dombi 32; Urban for Lipcsei 41; Illes for Klausz 63.
Yugoslavia: Kralj, Mirkovic, Djorovic, Jokanovic, Djukic, Brnovic, Jugovic, Savicevic, Mijatovic, Stojkovic, Mihajlovic. Subs: Milosevic for Mijatovic 52; Petrovic for Brnovic 59; Govidarica for Savicevic 71.
