Defensive lapses cost Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington saw his team suffer a bout of home sickness in their final international of the year as they lost 2-0 to Hungary.

The discomfort was self-inflicted as well with the province paying the price for some sloppy defensive play.

Second-half goals from Sandor Torghelle and Zoltan Gera were enough to give Hungary the victory they deserved in this friendly.

Yet the province went into the match in confident mood after beating San Marino comfortably in a World Cup qualifier last month.

However, Hungary dominated for long spells and almost took the lead when Krisztian Vadocz hoisted the ball over the top and Torghelle was the first to react but he failed to test goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

The visitors were growing in confidence and Gergely Rudolf burst to the byline in the 33rd minute to then evade Chris Baird's challenge and lay the ball back to Szabolcs Huszti, who sent his shot wide of the post from just inside the box.

Northern Ireland almost took the lead in the 54th minute when Brunt swung in a cross from the left and David Healy shot at the goalkeeper.

Hungary, however, took the lead in the 57th minute after a surging run from Huszti. He clipped the ball back from the byline and Torghelle made no mistake from close range.

Northern Ireland then appealed for a penalty on the hour when substitute Warren Feeney was grounded by Roland Guhasz but the referee allowed play to continue.

The visitors regrouped and went 2-0 ahead in the 71st minute with a goal out of nothing from Fulham's Gera. The midfielder latched on to a clearance from goalkeeper Gabor Babos and with Jonny Evans backing off, he rifled a superb shot into the net from 25 yards.