IFAF U19 Euros: Hungary storms back from 22 down, steals thriller from Poland in final seconds

AFI | 2026/27 IFAF European Junior Football Championships | 09/22/2026

Photo: Revelin Photos

Hungary (1-1) dug itself out of a 22-point hole and completed a remarkable comeback with 17 seconds left, stunning Poland (0-2) 45-41 in a back-and-forth 2026/27 IFAF U19 European Tackle Football Championships shootout in Székesfehérvár.

The lead changed hands five times, Poland appeared to have the game firmly under control at 34-12, and then Lóránt Emhő and the Hungarian offense turned the afternoon completely upside down.

Poland comes out swinging

Polish quarterback Kacper Berbeć weaved his way through the Hungarian defense and into the end zone from 20 yards out to get his team on the scoreboard, but Hungary wasted little time punching back. Bence Botond Gyürüsi connected with Álmos Könyves around midfield, and Könyves shook off tacklers and tore down the left sideline for a 60-yard touchdown.

Botond Várfalvi’s one-yard plunge put Hungary ahead 12-6, but momentum didn’t stay put for long.

Tomasz Bromboszcz blocked a punt and Wiktor Wróblewski pounced on it in the end zone. Bromboszcz then found the end zone twice on the ground, and Tymon Bychawski hit Jakub Sema for a 20-yard touchdown as Poland suddenly blew the game open at 34-12.

Photo: Revelin Photos

Hungary starts climbing back

With the game threatening to get away, Hungary finally found a spark.

Szabolcs Kovács ripped off a 73-yard run, helping set up an Emhő touchdown pass to Márk Matkovics. Then the Hungarian special teams came up with a blocked punt of their own, giving Emhő a short field. He cashed it in by finding Kovács in the end zone.

Just like that, 34-12 had become 34-24 by halftime, and Hungary had life.

Emhő flips the game

The break did nothing to cool off the hosts.

Emhő used his legs to drag Hungary within three, then broke loose for a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. After spending much of the afternoon chasing Poland, the Hungarians were suddenly in front 38-34.

But Poland had another counterpunch. Igor Jaworski grabbed a screen pass and raced 34 yards for a touchdown, putting the visitors back on top 41-38.

Seventeen seconds, one final answer

Hungary had less than five minutes to save the game and marched toward the Polish goal line. A touchdown was wiped away by a penalty, but the hosts refused to let the comeback die.

With 17 seconds left, Emhő kept the ball and powered into the end zone for the decisive score. Bendegúz Pogátsa added the extra point.

From 22 points down to four points up.

Poland had no final answer, and Hungary walked off its home field with a 45-41 win that had looked almost impossible before halftime.