Ukraine won their first official match under Italian head coach Andrea Maldera. A precise header from Danylo Sikan late in the first half was enough to secure a 1-0 victory in Budapest.

Hungary and Ukraine had been considered the main contenders for top spot in the Nations League group. So even without the political context surrounding the fixture, the match carried major importance.

The hosts looked more dangerous early on. In the 11th minute, after a cross from Dominik Szoboszlai, Lukacs met the ball first-time from the centre of the box and struck the crossbar with a turn and volley. Ukraine responded through Danylo Sikan, who won the ball in midfield before carrying it almost to the edge of the penalty area. Bolla also had a good opportunity during that spell, finding himself alone in front of goal, but his effort flew over the bar.

In the 38th minute, a major mistake from Illia Zabarnyi almost proved costly for Ukraine. However, Mykola Mykolenko came to the rescue, sliding in to clear the ball as it rolled towards an empty net. Then, in the 42nd minute, Ukraine produced the attack that ultimately decided the match. Heorhii Sudakov delivered a cross from the left and Danylo Sikan, arriving behind the defenders, headed the ball into the net.

As expected, the second half became a positional siege of Dmytro Riznyk's goal. Hungary enjoyed possession and territorial control but created very little. In fact, Ukraine's goalkeeper was not seriously tested until the 86th minute, when he tipped a shot from Jurek over the crossbar. Ukraine, meanwhile, looked to exploit mistakes with direct vertical passes. Vladyslav Krapyvin had an excellent chance to seal the game after Ocheretko put him through one-on-one, but the UPL top scorer could not beat the Hungary goalkeeper.

In stoppage time, Nazarenko was shown a second yellow card, leaving Ukraine with 10 men. A brief confrontation followed, with two players from each team receiving yellow cards. That was the extent of the late drama, however, as Hungary never created a genuine chance to rescue the match.

UEFA Nations League 2026-27

Hungary - Ukraine 0:1 (0:1)
Goals: Sikan, 42 (0:1)

Hungary: Toth Ba.; Csinger (Szűcs, 85); Orban W.; Kerkez M.; Bolla; Vitalis (Tóth M., 46); Szoboszlai; Schäfer; Csongvai (Tóth R., 66); Lukács (Barany, 46); Redzic (Jurek, 62)
Substitution: Barany (from 46); Tóth M. (from 46); Jurek (from 62); Tóth R. (from 66); Szűcs (from 85)
Bench: Pécsi; Gundel-Takács Bence; Szűcs; Markgráf; Osvath; Nagy Z.; Toth A.
Yellow Cards: Schäfer 5; Barany 83; Kerkez M. 94; Szoboszlai 94

Ukraine: Riznyk D.; Matviyenko; Krupskyi (Bondar V., 59); Zabarnyi; Mykolenko; Brazhko (Nazaryna, 46); Sudakov (Drambaiev, 91); Tsygankov; Ocheretko; Vanat (Nazarenko Ol-r, 59); Sikan (Krasnopir, 66)
Substitution: Nazaryna (from 46); Bondar V. (from 59); Nazarenko Ol-r (from 59 till 92); Krasnopir (from 66); Drambaiev (from 91)
Bench: Yermakov H.; Trubin; Yarmolenko; Sarapiy; Khlan M.; Zubkov; Ponomarenko M.
Yellow Cards: Brazhko 21; Krupskyi 49; Nazarenko Ol-r 71, 92; Matviyenko 94; Tsygankov 94
Red cards: Nazarenko Ol-r 92'