Hungary-Malta 2-0

Hungary: Marton Fulop, Zoltan Szelesi, Tamas Vasko, Roland Juhasz, Bela Balogh, Adam Vass, Attila Filkor (Akos Buzsaky, 75), Daniel Tozser, Zoltan Gera, Robert Feczesin (Peter Rajczi, 83), Balazs Dzsudzsak.

Malta: Justin Haber, Kenneth Scicluna, Brian Said, Luke Dimech, Ian Azzopardi, Roderick Briffa, George Mallia, Kevin Sammut (Udo Nwoko, 67), Ivan Woods, Michael Mifsud, Andre Schembri (Terence Scerri, 83).

Referee: Karen Nalbandyan (Armenia)

Scorers: Robert Feczesin 34 min; Daniel Tozser 77 min.

Yellow cards: I. Woods, Roland Juhasz

Robert Feczesin and Daniel Tozser scored a goal each yesterday to give Hungary a 2-0 win over Malta in a European Championship qualifier.

Feczesin gave the hosts the lead in the 34th minute, heading in a pass from Balazs Dzsudzsak after the packed Malta defence failed to clear a corner kick from the right side.

Tozser added the second goal in the 77th minute on a free kick as the ball bounced in the net off the right post, to ensure Hungary avenged last October’s 2-1 defeat in Malta.

Malta mostly played on the counterattack, but rarely gave Hungary goalkeeper Marton Fulop any trouble. Hungary had 14 corner kicks to just three by Malta.

Hungary had several other good scoring chances, notably a scissors kick by Zoltan Gera in the 31st minute and a shot from close range by Tozser in the 50th, but Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber kept his team in the match with some spectacular saves.

“I’m proud of the boys because they were able to overcome the challenges presented by every situation,” Hungary coach Peter Varhidi said.

Varhidi became head coach last December when his predecessor, Peter Bozsik, resigned after a 2-1 loss to Malta at Ta’ Qali in Euro 2008 qualifying. It is still considered one of the worst-ever losses by Hungary, who have not been to a major international tournament since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Hungary pressed the visitors back in the first 45 minutes and unsettled them from set-plays. Tamas Vasko teed up Zoltan Gera whose overhead kick from 15 metres bounced before brushing the post. Balazs Dzsudzsak’s inswinging free-kick from the left then found Gera, but the captain was unable to divert it goalwards.

Peter Varhidi’s men eventually went ahead on 34 minutes from another corner, this time from the right. The Malta defence failed to clear and the ball fell for Dzsudzsak who crossed for Feczesin to touch it beyond Justin Haber in Malta’s goal. Hungary continued to dominate after the restart. Attila Filkor collected possession on the right of the area 90 seconds into the second half, but hesitated when one-on-one with Haber and the goalkeeper smothered the ball. Gera’s curling shot was saved soon after.

Hungarian persistence finally paid off when they made the game safe with 13 minutes remaining: Tozser’s left-foot free-kick flying in off the right-hand post. Malta had opportunities themselves from set-pieces but their delivery lacked the accuracy of their opponents’ and Hungary goalkeeper Marton Fulop was left without a meaningful save to make. The win leaves Hungary fifth in the section on 12 points from ten matches, with Malta on five.