Nations League: Point gained in Moscow

The two top teams in Hungary's Nations League qualifying group met in Moscow on Wednesday night, hosts Russia currently topping the standings with two wins and a draw, a point ahead of Hungary who'd posted two victories and a defeat. September's clash between the two teams in Budapest had seen Russia win 3-2, Hungary having fought back from a three-goal deficit to come close to a remarkable draw.

For this Moscow rematch, head coach Marco Rossi made six change from the team which started three days earlier in Belgrade, Dénes Dibusz starting in goal behind a three-man rearguard of Endre Botka, Willi Orbán and Attila Szalai. Filip Holender took up a left-sided midfield role with Loic Nego gaining hs first full cap on the right side while in the middle, Dávid Sigér, Dániel Gazdag and Zsolt Kalmár were given roles, Ádám Szalai and Nemanja Nikolic leading the line upfront.

A tight first half saw the two sides cancel each other out, Russia better prepared for Hungary's pressing in their attacking half than Serbia had been on Sunday evening. The home team found their first effort on target blocked in the 41st minute and another attempt was thwarted by Dibusz just before the half-time break. This momentum was built upon early in the second half despite Rossi having brought on Attila Fiola and Ádám Nagy in place of Holender and Gazdag. The Russians devoted more energy to their attacks and Dibusz was called upon again in the 54th minute to turn Dzyuba's half-volley away for a corner. Three minutes later, the hosts stormed down the left side and after Ionov's 14-metre thunderbolt, the ball bounced off the crossbar in front of the goal line. Just after the hour mark, Kevin Varga made his second international appearance when he came on for Nikolic and he nearly scored straightaway, his shot being saved and Nego's follow-up blocked by Zsirkov.

Russia kept up the pressure in the last half hour but couldn't find a way through a stoic visiting defence and Rossi even took the opportunity to give youngster András Schäfer a chance in place of Kalmár, and Norbert Könyves another cap as he replaced Ádám Szalai. After four matches, Hungary has seven points in their group, still one point behind leaders Russia. Turkey and Serbia played out a 2-2 draw in the other group fixture of the evening, the former now holding three points in third spot and the latter with two points in fourth place.

Hungary's next matches are all scheduled to be at home, firstly against Iceland in the European Championship qualifying play-off final on November 12, followed by Nations League contests against Serbia and Turkey.