It was a game that Portugal had to win in order to keep breathing down the necks of group leaders Switzerland and they did so but with a far from vintage performance. The visitors helped enormously by Tamas Priskin’s first half red card.
Portugal started the game on the front foot but prior to the red card they were largely limited to shots from range which were were more often than not blocked away by the Magyars.
Ronaldo’s early effort called Gulacsi into action but the Hungarian stopper didn’t look too concerned by the strike.
Ronaldo arguably should have done better after 7 minutes as Coentrao crossed from the right after a quickly-taken corner. The Real Madrid man rose highest but his effort dropped just wide of the far post.
Danilo showed good positioning at the other end as he twice dealt with crosses from Priskin on the right.
Hungary skipper Dsudzsak saw a low effort bobble wide before Portugal saw a penalty appeal turned down.
The ball broke to Moutinho on the edge of the box, his curling effort was blocked into the path of Andre Silva, he went down as he looked to round Gulasci, the Portuguese was back on his feet immediately though but the chance had gone.
The visitors suffered a blow on 29 minutes as Fabio Coentrao was withdrawn with a thigh injury but the hosts handed their opponents a huge advantage after 30 minutes when Priskin was given a straight red card after clashing with Pepe.
The former Watford striker threw out an elbow as he contested a high ball with Pepe, before appearing to try to stamp on the former Real Madrid man as he lay prone on the turf.
Despite their numerical advantage, Portugal still struggled to create any clear-cut chances with Hungary opting for a more physical approach from there on out.
Loverencsics fired over for the home side before the visitors finally created a chance of note.
After Eliseu fired over from range, Portugal managed to work the ball out to Andre Silva on the left but he wasted Portugal’s first real sighting of goal by firing straight at Gulacsi.
Ronaldo tried to break the deadlock but he only managed to find the wall with a free kick and then the grateful arms of Gulacsi with a low effort from range.
The two sides went into the break level.
Portugal took control of the game just over two minutes into the second half as Andre Silva headed home Ronaldo’s cross from the left after nice play between Moutinho and Joao Mario to give the visitors the lead.
Hungary could have equalised immediately when Loverencsics' cross hit Eppel, ricocheting into the path of Patkai whose volley from the edge of the box dropped inches wide.
From there on in though Portugal took a stranglehold on proceedings, simply keeping the ball away from their opponents and taking the sting out of the game.
Cedric Soares saw a speculative effort fly over Gulacsi’s crossbar and there was very little goalmouth action for the remainder of the game.
Dszudzsak saw a dangerous looking cross cleared by Bruno Alves as the Magyars launched a rare attack.
Kadar almost put the ball in his own net with just over 10 minutes to go after Cristiano Ronaldo found Joao Mario with a lovely ball. The Inter Milan midfielder looked for Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva at the the far post with a low cross but Kadar’s sliding interceptions just about guided the ball into the grateful arms of Gulacsi.
Ronaldo was denied by a fine block by Fiola at the back post as time ticked away and he was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch late on as he appeared to kick out at Fiola.
The Hungary defender almost had the last laugh but his header was safely gathered by Rui Patricio in what proved to be the last attack of the game.
Hungary are now out of the running for next summer's World Cup, whilst Portugal are three points behind group leaders Switzerland ahead of next month's crucial clash between the side, with Portugal boasting a superior goal difference.