Hungary beat Moldova to stay in the hunt

Vilmos Vanczák and Gergely Rudolf struck the goals as Hungary kept themselves in the race for runners-up spot in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group E with a confident 2-0 triumph in Moldova.

Sweden's 5-0 win in San Marino meant the visitors had to prevail in Chisinau to stay level with the Scandinavian side behind the Netherlands – albeit having played a game more – and they made a purposeful start when Vilmos Vanczák struck after just seven minutes. Beaten 4-1 by Sweden and Finland in their last two qualifiers, Moldova had a point to prove, yet they were consigned to another defeat when Gergely Rudolf sealed the result seven minutes from time.

Hungary were again denied the services of Balázs Dzsudzsák due to the influential midfielder's broken collarbone, and they came close to conceding when Alexandru Suvorov shot narrowly wide from a tight angle. The home side's bright start did not last long, though, and it was Vanczák who opened the scoring, turning the ball in from close range after Roland Juhász had headed across the face of goal following a free-kick.

Gavril Balint's men had a chance to equalise with 20 minutes gone when Vadim Boreţ's effort from outside the area was parried by Gábor Király, but, following up, Serghei Alexeev directed his attempt over the bar. An inability to find the target also befell Moldova's Suvorov, Igor Armaş, Anatolie Doroş and Igor Bugaev as Hungary began to play more cautiously after the break, yet it was the visitors who still had the last say.

Fresh from hitting a last-gasp winner against Sweden on Friday, Rudolf again found the net late on to ensure Hungary retain their hopes of finishing second ahead of their final qualifier against Finland on 11 October. However, they need to hope Finland did not lost to Sweden four days earlier.