Hungary Close In on Northern Ireland After 2-1 Win Over Ukraine

Hungary kept the pressure on at the top of Nations League Group B2 on Monday with a 2-1 victory over Ukraine, a match staged in Slovakia. The win lifted the Magyars to within a single point of leaders Northern Ireland, who failed to take full advantage of their own fixture.

Northern Ireland remain top of the group but will feel they dropped two points in Belfast, where they were held 0-0 by Georgia. The hosts' best chance came late on when Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved an Isaac Price penalty, a stop that could prove decisive in the final standings.

Ukraine, who had been beaten 3-0 by Northern Ireland only three days earlier, now find themselves slipping away from the promotion race after a second straight defeat. Hungary, by contrast, have given themselves real momentum — back-to-back wins have revived their bid to reach League A.

With the group delicately poised, the November window will decide everything. Northern Ireland host Ukraine on November 14, while Hungary's trip schedule means their destiny could still be in their own hands.