Szoboszlai double seals two-goal success in Bosnia

Experienced Ferencváros defender Endre Botka in for the injured Márton Dárdai was the only change from Friday's line-up which battled so hard for a home point against the Netherlands in the third round of fixtures in Nations League Division A, so impressive recent debutant Tamás Nikitscher continued alongside András Schäfer in central midfield as Rossi again sent his side out in his favoured 3-4-3 formation.

Hungary knew that avoiding defeat in Zenica on Monday evening would be imperative if they were to remain in control of their Nations League destiny this year, their slender, one-point advantage over hosts Bosnia coming courtesy of a 1-1 draw with the Dutch on matchday three. In contrast, their opponents knew they desperately needed to win, so their opening period of pressure in a traditional, old stadium which harked back to a different era of football came as no surprise. Indeed, their first chance came in just the first minute when veteran striker Edin Dzeko fired a shot just wide of the bottom left corner of the Hungary goal, but the visitors soon settled and created chances of their own, Barnabás Varga and Bendegúz Bolla both forcing saves from Bosnia goalkeeper Vasilj.

Roland Sallai then went close with a drive from outside the penalty are just before Rossi's men took a 38th-minute lead, captain Szoboszlai slotting the ball into the net from a tight angle following good work by Zsolt Nagy coming in from the left wing. The one-goal advantage was no more than Hungary deserved and five minutes into the second half, they doubled it, Liverpool midfielder Szoboszlai tucking away a penalty after substitute Nail Omerovic had fouled Zsolt Nagy just as he was about to shoot at goal.

As ever, Hungary worked tremendously hard at preserving their lead, Dzeko having the hosts' only clear chance of the second half but finding himself denied by Dibusz in goal. That preservation was yet again successfully completed, Hungary's run of remaining unbeaten in competitive matches after taking the lead now stretching back an incredible 42 fixtures, and there was even time to give another emerging talent his international debut, Plymouth Argyle defender Kornél Szűcs replacing the impressive Zsolt Nagy amidst a raft of substitutions for both teams.

This excellent 2-0 victory draws Hungary four points clear of Bosnia and level with the Netherlands on five points after the Dutch lost by a single goal in Germany in the group's other game. Rossi's men will now seek to secure their Division A status in their final two Nations League group fixtures in November, away in Amsterdam against the Netherlands and at home against Germany in the Puskás Aréna in Budapest

Bosnia-Herzegovina 0–2 ­Hungary (HT: 0–1)
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Vasilj – Gazibegovic (Omerovic, 46), Bicakcic, Katic, Kolasinac – Gigovic (Huseinbasic, 64), Tahirovic (Saric, 79) – Bajraktarevic, Hajradinovic (Basic, 79), Burnic (Tabakovic, 64) – Dzeko.
HUNGARY: Dibusz – Botka, Orbán, Fiola – Bolla (Gera, 68), Nikitscher, Schäfer (Nagy Á., 86), Nagy Zs. (Szűcs, 86) – Sallai (Gazdag, 68), Szoboszlai – Varga B. (Ádám M., 78)
Goalscorer: Szoboszlai (38, 50 pen)