Hungary reached the semi-finals of the Under-20 World Cup yesterday by beating Italy 3-2 in an extra-time thriller that contained four red cards, 44 fouls and finished with both coaches being sent off.

Hungary will play Ghana, which beat South Korea 3-2 in the other semi-final after goals from strikers Dominic Adiyiah and Ransford Osei.

With FIFA promoting a message of fair play before each match, Italy's clash with Hungary was anything but.

Italy defenders Matteo Gentili, Francesco Bini and Michelangelo Albertazzi saw red, as did coach Francesco Rocca for the second time in the tournament. Hungary defender Adrian Szekeres and coach Sandor Egervari were also dismissed.

Colombian referee Oscar Ruiz made a brave and correct call, awarding Hungary a penalty inside the first minute after Gentili knocked Krisztian Nemeth over.

penalty

Italy had conceded a penalty against Spain in its last match, and Vladimir Koman sent goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo the wrong way from the spot to give Hungary a 1-0 lead.

Italy conjured a wonderful goal in the 82nd minute with a moment of brilliance from Giacomo Bonaventura, whose floated pass over the defence landed for Antonio Mazzotta to equalise.

Extra time was even better.

Nemeth's two clinical goals gave Hungary the win despite another brilliant Italy goal, scored by the outstanding Bonaventura.

Italy's players dropped to their knees in despair at the final whistle, while Hungary leaped up and down in front of Egervari, perched high up above them.

Meanwhile, Osei and Adiyiah have now combined for 10 goals at the tournament.

Adiyiah is favoured to clinch the golden boot after taking his tally to six goals with two against South Korea, which twice rallied from two-goal deficits in front of 300 devoted supporters at Suez's Mubarak stadium.