A late goal from Zoltan Stieber gave Hungary a 1-0 win in their Euro 2016 qualifier against Finland and moved them within a point of second-placed Northern Ireland in Group F.

The visitors started on the front foot and should have been ahead within eight minutes as Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky thwarted Zoltan Gera twice in quick succession.

Hungary dominated the first half, and Hradecky came to the Fins' rescue again just after the half-hour mark when he smothered a low drive from Balazs Dzsudzsak that looked destined for the bottom corner.

The away side applied further pressure early in the second half, but Finland almost nicked a goal against the run of play just after the hour as Roman Eremenko let fly from the edge of the area, testing Gabor Kiraly between the Hungary sticks.

It became more of a contest in the latter stages as both sides created chances, but it was Hungary who dug deepest, finding a winner eight minutes from time through Stieber, whose free kick eluded Hradecky and made the net ripple.

The result puts Northern Ireland under pressure in Group F, with Hungary now just one point behind them, although the Irish can extend their advantage by defeating Romania later this evening.