Big win breathes new life into Hungary

A virtuoso display from Hungary's forward line set up a 5-1 victory over Estonia that lifted them back to second in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group D.

Hungary dominated from the outset and Krisztián Németh had already struck the crossbar when they forged ahead in bizarre fashion in the 11th minute as Mikk Reintam hammered a clearance against the head of his captain Ragnar Klavan and into the Estonian net. Tamás Hajnál and Dániel Böde struck to make it 3-0 at the break and though Tarmo Kink reduced the arrears soon after the restart, the hosts ran out comfortable winners.

Sándor Egervári's charges, seeking to rise above Romania and Turkey and into second spot behind a Netherlands side that qualified tonight, were always on top. They may have been unlucky when Németh rattled the woodwork but fortune was on their side when Balázs Dzudzsák's left-wing cross found the net via Reintam and Klavan. The next two goals were more orthodoxly impressive.

First Hajnál volleyed in Vladimir Koman's cross before, with the break in sight, Böde strode forward from halfway and dispatched a fine finish past Sergei Pareiko. Kink's goal stemmed the tide for a while but Hungary soon restored their three-goal lead, Koman's neat pass feeding Németh to shoot low into the left corner past Pareiko. Dzsudzsák rounded off victory with a strike five minutes from time.