Hungary beat Malta 4-0 on Saturday in Budapest to keep alive its slim hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.
Despite the scoreline, the home side had to work hard to overcome a stubborn and spirited Malta side.
Sandor Torghelle, Akos Takacs and Peter Rajczi scored for the home side, while Malta’s Stephen Wellman kicked the ball into his own goal trying to defend a cross from Hungary’s Zoltan Boor.
The victory gave Hungary 13 points in seven games, good for third place in Group 8, six points behind leaders Sweden. Croatia are second with 18 points.
Hungary’s first goal came in the 35th minute, when Malta’s Roderick Briffa failed to fully clear a corner from Krisztian Kenesei. Peter Halmosi’s shot from 28 metres was intercepted by Torghelle, who beat Maltese goalkeeper Justin Haber from eight metres (yards) with a low shot.
Torghelle, very lively in the Hungarian front line, wasted several other chances in the first half by frequently falling into Malta’s offside trap, earning a scolding from Hungary coach Lothar Matthaeus.
After the break, however, Hungary took complete control, and finally made their dominance count with two goals either side of the hour.
Torghelle was again Hungary’s most dangerous attacker, hitting the post from close range in the 53rd. He was also involved in Wellman’s own-goal in the 56th, as the Maltese defender was trying to clear a pass meant for Torghelle.
Takacs scored from 28 metres out in the 64th, and a header by substitute Peter Rajczi made it 4-0 in the 85th.
At the end of the match, national coach Horst Heese said the Maltese had done their best, especially in the first half. He praised his youngsters for showing so much commitment, especially in the first half, but added that the second goal killed all their hopes.
The German coach, who had to play without Luke Dimech, Gilbert Agius and Michael Mifsud, admitted that Hungary took over after the second goal and everything became much more difficult for Malta which apparently appeared tired following their earlier efforts.
Line-ups
Hungary: Gabor Kiraly; Laszlo Bodnar, Roland Juhasz, Vilmos Vanczak, Peter Halmosi, Zoltan Boor (Szabolcs Huszti, 57), Akos Takacs, Tamas Hajnal, Zoltan Gera (Akos Buzsaky, 76), Krisztian Kenesei (Peter Rajczi, 69), Sandor Torghelle.
Malta: Justin Haber; Peter Pullicino, Stephen Wellman, Brian Said, Kenneth Scicluna (Antoine Zahra, 55), Claude Mattocks, Roderick Briffa, Ivan Woods, Massimo Grima (Kevin Sammut, 66), Andrew Cohen (Ian Ciantar, 84), Orosco Anonam.