Peter Varhidi`s side took an early lead through Tamas Priskin's ninth-minute goal and rarely looked troubled against a poor Moldova side still looking for their first Euro 2008 qualifying victory.

The home side, who have at least temporarily leapfrogged Malta, scored with their first real chance, with Priskin heading in Tamas Hajnal's cross.

Moldova finally began to find some rhythm and started to create chances. Igor Bugaev`s 30-yard free-kick seemed set to test Hungary keeper Zoltan Vegh but brave defender Bela Balogh got there first, blocking his sweetly struck effort.

Victor Comlenoc had a chance to level things up in the 25th minute but the midfielder volleyed wildly over the bar from six yards.

Moments later the away side thought they had forced an equaliser but Viorel Frunza`s strike was disallowed after the striker`s effort was deemed offside.

Hungary regained control and West Brom midfielder Gera was inches away from doubling the advantage only for his 12-yard effort from the centre of the penalty area to finish the wrong side of the left post.

It was one-way traffic in the second half as Hungary pressed for a second to kill the game off, with Priskin`s stunning 25-yard effort cannoning off the bar after 53 minutes.

Eventually the goal arrived in the 63rd minute when Gera turned in the influential Hajnal`s left-wing cross from six yards.

Priskin came close again with a long-range effort and Vegh was called into action to deny Serghei Alexeev from close range with 10 minutes remaining.

It was Serghei Pascenco - the busier of the two keepers for much of the evening - who had the more work to do late on, first parrying Csaba Csizmadia`s cross to safety before watching Krisztian Vadocz`s shot fly wide of the left post.