BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) -Second-half goals from Sandor Torghelle and Roland Juhasz gave Hungary a 2-0 win over Albania in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Albania set up a tight defense at the start of the match, keeping the Hungarian attack far from their goal.
Albania's Erjon Bogdani had the first clear scoring chance when his powerful shot from 20 meters (yards) in the 10th minute was saved by Hungary goalkeeper Marton Fulop.
In the 37th, Skela hit the post with a shot from 18 meters, while Hungary continued to have problems controlling the ball past midfield.
Torghelle gave Hungary the lead in the 49th, rising above an Albanian defender after a pass from Szabolcs Huszti and heading in the ball from close range.
The goal by the FC Augsburg striker - his eighth for Hungary in 28 matches - gave the home team confidence to speed up the pace of their attack and Torghelle and Huszti had several other chances in the next 20 minutes.
Juhasz headed in his goal after a corner kick in the 82nd, the ball bouncing in off the legs of Albanian goalkeeper Arjan Beqaj.
With all six teams having played three matches, Denmark leads Group 1 with seven points, ahead of Sweden with five. Hungary has four points, the same as Albania and Portugal. Malta has yet to gain a point or score a goal in the qualifiers for the 2010 finals in South Africa.
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Lineups:
Hungary: Marton Fulop, Laszlo Bodnar, Vilmos Vanczak, Roland Juhasz, Zoltan Szelesi, Peter Halmosi, Balazs Dzsudzsak, Pal Dardai, Sandor Torghelle (Gergely Rudolf, 90), Tamas Hajnal (Akos Buzsaky, 61), Szabolcs Huszti (Krisztian Vadocz, 86).
Albania: Arjan Beqaj, Elvin Beqiri (Edmond Kapllani, 74), Kristi Vangjeli (Jahmir Hyka, 55; Ervin Bulku, 84), Armend Dallku, Debatik Curri, Klodian Duro, Ervin Skela, Agolli Ansi Agolliu, Lorik Cana, Altin Lala, Erjon Bogdani.
