Ukraine edge Hungary in Budapest as Maldera wins first competitive match in charge

[p]Determined to get off to a good start, both nations had chances in the opening 15 minutes, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukacs-daniel/OY67oAB9/"]Daniel Lukacs[/a] directing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schafer-andras/8GBj8NFA/"]Andras Schafer[/a]'s knockdown onto the bar, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sikan-danylo/xSNs8yTf/"]Danylo Sikan[/a] dragged a shot just wide at the other end.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hungary/MTVhw6Go/"]Hungary[/a] captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/szoboszlai-dominik/dERKtqoo/"]Dominik Szoboszlai[/a] then drove his team forward and cut back for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bolla-bendeguz/dCY5Ik9t/"]Bendeguz Bolla[/a], who somehow volleyed over from a few yards out.[/p][p]In an end-to-end contest, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gyokeres-viktor/zaBZ1xIk/"]Viktor Tsyhankov[/a] then also fired off-target as his strike flew past the post.[/p][p][b]Either side could have taken the lead before half-time, but it was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ukraine/j1JtDMwo/"]Ukraine[/a] who struck first blood through Sikan, who headed home [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sudakov-heorhii/vT9ev7SJ/"]Georgiy Sudakov[/a]’s perfect cross.[/b][/p][p]Hungary did their best to respond early in the second half, and a well-worked corner found its way to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/csongvai-aron/SE7xf1NB/"]Aron Csongvai[/a], who looped his header onto the roof of the net.[/p][p]Schafer then created another chance with a knockdown to substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/toth-milan/xfPqtbX9/"]Milan Toth[/a], who volleyed straight into [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/riznyk-dmytro/b3DGuTi6/"]Dmytro Riznyk[/a]’s grateful arms.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="1a33df40-0801-4ce1-917a-f3640ed65b64" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="b445bb24-0dc1-4b38-a64f-2b83afc68c91" original-width="3840" original-height="2160" /][p]If the hosts were to equalise, it looked like Schafer would be involved, and he soon threatened again with an effort from distance that was also gathered by Riznyk.[/p][p]Substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barany-donat/jmzocqOl/"]Donat Barany[/a] also headed wide in a promising position, as the hosts continued to dominate into the latter stages.[/p][p]However, Ukraine threatened on the break and could have put the game to bed through substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/krasnopir-igor/ji2tLMiS/"]Igor Krasnopir[/a], who rounded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/toth-balazs/4l89kjaD/"]Balazs Toth[/a], but the goalkeeper did well to reach for the ball and keep it out. [/p][p]The visitors ultimately stood firm despite [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nazarenko-oleksandr/MNBUY49B/"]Oleksandr Nazarenko[/a] receiving a second yellow card and subsequent red for a late challenge in stoppage time.[/p][embed guid="a9583550-7036-40dc-b090-582f7b9d27e9" url="https://x.com/FCShakhtar_eng/status/2103586726174183738" social-type="twitter" /][p]As such, they record their sixth win in nine matches (L3), with a visit to Georgia their next challenge under Maldera, who becomes the first foreign Ukraine manager to win a competitive international.[/p][p]Hungary lose just their second in nine internationals (W5, D2), leaving Marco Rossi with much to ponder heading into their next fixture against Northern Ireland.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ocheretko-oleg/ChUpVP3k/"]Oleg Ocheretko[/a] (Ukraine)[/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="7563089e-d810-4da7-b84e-3a1b15322106" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="d6b36486-48f1-4969-9ad6-3ed68a6f45bf" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/hungary-MTVhw6Go/ukraine-j1JtDMwo/?mid=jDSIyx2c"][b]Check out the match stats here[/b][/a].[/p]