Malta 1
Camilleri 2;
Hungary 3
Futacs 28, 36; Lazar 84;
Two quick Marko Futacs goals, midway through the first half, saw Hungary come from behind and beat Malta comfortably in a low-key friendly yesterday.
An early Yessous Camilleri goal gave the sparse crowd present hopes that this could be another good day for the U-21 team.
But as the minutes ticked by, the Magyars started to show class and, inspired by the strong running of Adam Bodi and Istvan Kovacs, they pegged the hosts in their own half and it was only a matter of time before they turned the tide in their favour for a merited victory.
The last-minute withdrawal of defender Owen Bugeja forced coach Ray Farrugia to shift his pack and deploy Zach Muscat into a centre-back role alongside Camilleri.
Rowen Muscat was handed the task to anchor midfield in a 4-4-1-1 formation that had Jean Paul Farrugia in a lone striker position.
Malta were off to a flyer as only two minutes had elapsed when Steve Pisani crossed into the path of the unmarked Camilleri who stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Three minutes later Farrugia fell in the Hungary box under the challenge of David Kalnoki-Kis but referee Alan Mario Sant waved play on.
Hungary’s response arrived on seven minutes when Futacs did well to turn past his marker but the Portsmouth striker saw his rising shot finish over.
The visitors were forced to make their first change after 10 minutes when Andras Goszonyi limped out injured.
However, they sustained the pressure and restored equilibrium on 28 minutes when Bodi stormed clear on the right before delivering a perfect ball into the path of the unmarked Futacs who slotted past keeper Steve Sultana.
The fast pace of the Hungarian forwards was causing lots of problems to the Maltese defence.
On one occasion Istvan Kovacs sped past three defenders but was somehow blotted out before he could deliver the final touch.
But, nine minutes from the break Hungary took the lead after another choral move. Robert Litauszki picked the steaming Kovacs who dashed inside the box before serving Futacs who lifted the roof of the net with a fierce drive.
Before half-time, Daren Falzon’s shot from the edge of the Hungary penalty area was easily dealt with by Gulacsi.
Both teams effected three changes at half-time with Farrugia withdrawing Rowen Muscat, Pisani and Falzon and roping in Miguel Ciantar, Terrence Vella and debutant Jonathan Bajada.
Vella went on to partner Farrugia upfront with Bajada and Ciantar taking a wide midfield position.
Futacs was replaced at the break but substitute Gerco Beliczky showed tremendous pace on 57 minutes when he anticipated Luca Martinelli before letting loose a rasping grounder that was pushed away by Sultana.
The keeper was again on the alert when keeping out Bodi’s shot.
That was Sultana’s last contribution as he was replaced by Adrian Parnis who was also earning his first cap for Malta U-21.
The hosts were unable to find a way through and had Parnis to thank for not conceding another goal when he rushed out to block the goalbound Patrick Tischler.
However, the Xewkija Tigers goalkeeper could do little to prevent Hungary from wrapping up their win six minutes from time.
Tischler squared the ball into the path of Bence Lazar who rammed the ball home from close in.
Malta
S. Sultana (62 A. Parnis), L. Martinelli, Z. Muscat, R. Muscat (46 M. Ciantar), J.P. Farrugia, D. Falzon (46 J. Bajada), Y. Camilleri, C. Borg (65 S. Grech), M. Gauci (80 I. Grech), T. Caruana (52 R. Scicluna), S. Pisani (46 T. Vella).
Hungary
P. Gulacsi (46 B. Megyeri), D. Kalnoki-Kis, R. Litauszki (90 F. Fodor), G. Yannaki, A. Bodi (62 B. Balazs), I. Kovacs (76 B. Lazar), M. Futacs (46 P. Tischler), A. Goszonyi (10 G. Beliczky), A. Simon, A. Fiola, B. Iszlai (46 P. Nagy).
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow cards: Iszlai, Vella, Simon, Ciantar.