Sweden prevail in the Puskás Aréna

Second-half goals from Benjamin Nygren and Yasin Ayari were enough to send a profligate Hungary to defeat in the Puskás Aréna tonight, but there were some positives for head coach Marco Rossi to take from the evening's action, including international debuts for substitutes Gábor Szalai and Áron Csongvái.

Rossi selected a strong starting lineup, goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz stationed behind a defensive trio from left to right of Botond Balogh, Willi Orbán and Márton Dárdai. The mix of youth and experience continued to be evident throughout the eleven, a four-man midfield of Bendegúz Bolla, Bence Dárdai, András Schäfer and Zsolt Nagy ready to support captain Dominik Szoboszlai, Roland Sallai and Dániel Gazdag in attack.

That playing strength soon shone through, Sallai going close to opening the scoring three times in the first six minutes and
Gazdag and Schäfer also seeing sight of goal in the first half-hour as Hungary sought an early lead. On 31 minutes, Sallai manoeuvred his way into a shooting opportunity but could only fire the ball wide.

Sweden finally settled though and began to threaten in their opposing half too, Anthony Elanga receiving a nice pass from Hugo Larsson in the 33rd minute before crashing the ball against the crossbar from 18 metres. Elanga went close again before half-time, shooting into the side-netting when well placed, but the first half contrived to end goalless.

That all changed in the 49th minute when Nygren's shot deflected off Orbán and past a stranded Dibusz to hand Sweden the lead. The game continued to be open thereafter, chances coming and going for both sides, the best perhaps falling to Sallai who shot wide after Alex Tóth's cross found him with just visiting goalkeeper Robin Olsen to beat.

Hungary were made to pay soon after, Sweden doubling their lead through Ayari, who dispossessed Dibusz in the 65th minute and slotted the ball into an empty net from 15 metres.

By this time, midfielder Áron Csongvái had come for his Hungary debut and he was soon joined on the pitch for the first time in Hungary colours by Ferencváros defender Gábor Szalai. Sallai again went close as the hosts sought an equaliser and Elanga saw a 3rd Sweden goal ruled out for offside, but there were to be no more goals, Sweden coming away with a perhaps slightly fortunate 2-0 victory.

Hungary 0–2 Sweden (HT: 0–0)
Puskás Aréna, Budapest, 55,000 spectators. Ref: Karaoglan (TUR)
HUNGARY: Dibusz – Balogh B. (Nego, 78), Orbán, Dárdai M. (Szalai G., 79) – Bolla (Csoboth, 71), Dárdai B. (Csongvai, 61), Schäfer, Nagy Zs. – Gazdag (Tóth A., 60), Sallai, Szoboszlai (Nikitscher, 79). 
Head coach: Marco Rossi
SWEDEN: R. Olsen – Ekdal, Hien, G. Gudmundsson – Holm (Bernhardsson, 63), H. Larsson, Salétros, Ayari, Sema (Svensson, 63) – Nygren, Elanga. 
Head coach: Jon Dahl Tomasson
Goalscorers: SWE: Nygren (49), Ayari (65)