Ukraine opens Nations League campaign with 1-0 away victory over Hungary

Forty-two minutes into his first competitive match as Ukraine's head coach, Andrea Maldera watched Danylo Sikan rise in the center of the penalty box. The Anderlecht striker met Heorhiy Sudakov's cross and headed it past the Hungarian keeper, securing a 1-0 away victory at the Puskás Aréna on September 25, 2026. That single sequence ended Hungary's four-match unbeaten home run and delivered Ukraine three critical points to open their 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League campaign.[1][2][4][5]

The League B Group 2 fixture carried immediate weight for both nations. Hungary entered the match looking to reset after a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Republic of Ireland last November that cost them a World Cup spot. Ukraine, meanwhile, arrived in Budapest under new management. Maldera, who previously served as an assistant to Andriy Shevchenko, took over the top job in May, becoming the first foreign manager to lead the Ukrainian national team in a competitive fixture.[2][4]

The hosts dictated the early tempo in front of their home crowd. Within the opening 15 minutes, Hungary's Dániel Lukács directed a knockdown from András Schäfer onto the crossbar. Captain Dominik Szoboszlai consistently drove the Magyars forward, at one point cutting the ball back for Bendegúz Bolla, who volleyed over the net from close range.[2][3][5]

Despite the sustained pressure from the Hungarian midfield, Ukraine's backline held firm. Anchored by Illia Zabarnyi and Vitalii Mykolenko, the defensive unit absorbed the early waves of attacks and gradually stabilized the match's rhythm. The visitors began to find passing lanes through the center, setting the stage for their decisive counter-punch.[2][3]

The breakthrough arrived just before halftime against the run of play. Sudakov found space on the wing and delivered a precise cross to Sikan, who buried the header. Hungary manager Marco Rossi adjusted his setup at the break, bringing on Milán Tóth and Donát Bárány to inject pace into the attack.[2][3][5]

The hosts nearly equalized when Áron Csongvai looped a header onto the roof of the net following a well-worked corner, and Schäfer later tested Ukrainian goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk with a distance strike. As Hungary pushed numbers forward in the final stages, Ukraine found opportunities on the counter. Substitute Ihor Krasnopir nearly doubled the lead, rounding Hungarian keeper Balázs Tóth only to see his effort saved at the last moment.[2][3]

The tension spilled over in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Ukrainian midfielder Oleksandr Nazarenko received a second yellow card for a late challenge, reducing the visitors to ten men. The final whistle triggered a brief, heated confrontation between players from both sides on the pitch before order was restored.[1][2][4]

For Maldera, the chaotic finish did not overshadow the result. "I'm satisfied and happy," the Italian coach told Suspilne Sport after the match. "But last week I said we need to maintain a balance. This game is over; starting tomorrow, we need to think about the next games." The victory places Ukraine at the top of Group B2 alongside Northern Ireland, establishing a resilient baseline for the Maldera era as they prepare to face Georgia.[1][4][6]