Greece ended their successful Euro 2008 qualifying campaign on a winning note after coming from a goal down to grind out a victory over Hungary at the Ferec Puskas Stadium in Budapest.

Otto Rehhagel's men were fortunate to go in at half-time on level terms having fallen behind to Akos Buzsaky's early deflected opener in a lacklustre start.

Home defender Vilmos Vanczak threw the Greeks a lifeline midway through the opening half when he headed past his own goalkeeper before skipper Angelos Basinas scored from the penalty spot a minute before the hour mark to complete a determined fightback from the European Champions.

In the first minute Tamas Priskin broke clear after a mistake by Greek full-back Christos Patsatzoglou, but the defender was saved by goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias' fine block.

Six minutes later though, and the hosts' early pressure yielded the lead when Buzsaky went on a mazy run before firing in a shot which deflected off Kostas Katsouranis and looped over Chalkias.

Greece levelled after 22 minutes with their first real attack of the match when Katsouranis' right-wing cross was flicked across goal by Alexandros Tziolis and headed into his own net by Vanczak.

The Greeks, so convincing in their 5-0 demolition of Malta on Saturday, were reduced to long-range efforts from Basinas while the home side continued to carve out decent chances.

Peter Halmosi should have converted Buzsaky's cross just after the half-hour mark and midfielder Daniel Tozser was denied from 20 yards by Chalkias' diving save.

Rehhagel reverted to his three-striker system after the break, bringing on Georgios Samaras for midfielder Tziolis and the move reaped dividends on 59 minutes when the visitors won a penalty following Hungary keeper Marton Fulop's foul on Gekas. Basinas stepped up confidently to slot the spot-kick home and put Greece in front.

Vanczak should have levelled matters once more after 71 minutes when he was presented with a free header from Tozser's free-kick but the big defender failed to atone for his earlier own goal and headed straight at substitute goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis.

Samaras almost made it 3-1 with a snapshot from the edge of the penalty area which was saved well by Fulop as Greece held firm.

Teams:

Hungary Fulop, Szelesi, Vasko, Juhasz, Vanczak, Vass, Tozser (Leandro 86), Buzsaky, Hajnal (Filkor 79), Halmosi (Feczesin 83), Priskin.

Subs Not Used: Koteles, Dzsudzsak, Vermes, Bela Balogh.

Booked: Tozser.

Goals: Buzsaky 7.

Greece Chalkias (Nikopolidis 46), Patsatzoglou, Kapsis, Vyntra, Kyrgiakos, Basinas, Tziolis (Samaras 46), Karagounis, Katsouranis, Gekas (Amanatidis 84), Salpigidis.

Subs Not Used: Giannakopoulos, Spyropoulos, Liberopoulos,

Mantzios.

Booked: Kyrgiakos, Patsatzoglou.

Goals: Vanczak 22 og, Basinas 59 pen.

Att: 32,300

Ref: Rob Styles (England).