Hungary lose ground after Greece stalemate

• Greece claim their second point in Sergio Markarián's first game in charge
• There is no way through for Hungary who lose ground on Romania and Northern Ireland
• Balázs Dzsudzsák and Nemanja Nikolić go closest for the hosts
• Greece remain bottom of Group F without a win in five games
• Next qualifiers: Finland v Hungary, Faroe Islands v Greece (13 June)

Hungary were held to a goalless draw in Budapest by Greece, who claimed their second Group F point in new coach Sergio Markarián's first match in charge.

In an entertaining contest, neither team capitalised as clear chances were created but missed. Home coach Pál Dárdai – now installed as permanent successor to Attila Pintér – went for the experience of goalkeeper Gábor Király and playmaker Zoltán Gera while new Greece boss Markarián made five changes from the lineup that lost their last UEFA EURO 2016 qualifier at home to the Faroe Islands.

Greece captain Vasilis Torosidis had the first effort on goal but his header looped harmlessly over Király's crossbar. A minute later Ádám Szalai should have put Hungary ahead yet he nodded over when unmarked. Soon after, Balázs Dzsudzsák surged forward and stung the palms of Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis at his near post.

The opportunities kept coming, Greece's Stefanos Athanasiadis denied by Roland Juhász's timely intervention, before Gera blazed over. Hungary's Zoltán Stieber and Giannis Fetfatzidis for the visitors both fired straight at the opposing keepers as the sides sought the breakthrough before half-time.

The Greeks were more dominant in the early period of the second half and Panagiotis Kone and Fetfatzidis both spurned decent openings as Hungary struggled to adjust to the higher tempo.

The game remained finely poised although the hosts did gain some momentum. Ádám Pintér's drive was tipped over by Karnezis before substitute Nemanja Nikolić squandered the chance of the night when he sliced over from five metres as the Magyars pushed hard but to no avail.