Positive Hungary pay for profligacy in Finland

A seventh-minute strike from Finland’s Teemu Pukki was enough to condemn Hungary to a narrow defeat in Marco Rossi’s first match in charge, but there was still plenty to be encouraged by in an attacking display which only lacked real quality in front of goal.

Hungary head coach Marco Rossi opted for an attacking 4-1-4-1 formation in the Finnish city of Tampere with Gergő Lovrencsics and right back and Attila Fiola in an unfamiliar left-back role either side of Tamás Kádár and Ádam Lang. Máté Pátkai was given the task of shielding the defence with István Kovács and László Kleinheisler in front of him, Roland Sallai on the left and Zoltán Stieber on the right the two tasked with providing width and a good supply line to Szalai who was ploughing a lone furrow upfront.

Hungary seemed intent on hurting the hosts early on but Finland were ready to counter at every opportunity and capitalised on this in the seventh minute when Teemu Pukki robbed a hesitant Sallai and outpaced Fiola down the right channel before planting a low, left-footed finish just inside Gulácsi’s right post to hand the hosts the lead.

Gulácsi was forced to claw away a cross-shot two minutes later but it was largely Hungary dominating proceedings, albeit they kept spurning chances to equalise.

Stieber blazed over on the half-volley and later saw a low drive deflected wide, Láng and Sallai missed the target with first-time shots from inside the penalty area and Ádám Szalai was a constant thorn in Finland’s side, but they still couldn’t find an equaliser.

The second half started in open fashion and several opportunities presented themselves in the first few minutes. Firstly, Lang spurned a free far-post header from Stieber’s left-wing corner before Finland’s Soiri cut inside from the left flank but curled his ensuing effort just wide of the far right post. Szalai, captain for the first time, then did well to control Kovács’ inswinging cross from the left but Finland goalkeeper Hradecky stood up well to block the Hungarian striker’s left-footed shot from six metres.