HUNGARIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE – ROUND 14: MTK suffer first home defeat while Fradi remain unstoppable

MTK suffered their first league defeat at their temporary home of Vasas’ Illovszky Stadion as Haladás’ Bálint Baál scored in the 75th minute to give Géza Meszöly’s team all three points and keep them in third position in NBI. MTK could have taken the lead in the 44th minute but Haladás goalkeeper Gábor Király superbly saved Barnabás Bese’s header and the away team capitalised when Péter Halmosi crossed from the left and Gaál headed into the net for his second winning goal in as many games. MTK, meanwhile lost two proud records; their 100% home winning streak and their achievement of having scored in every home game since 2nd May.

Haladás now leapfrog MTK into third place, one point behind Paks on 25 points after they posted an impressive 4-2 victory at home to Puskás Akadémia, their fourth win in a row in a run which is now their best since May 2014. Kristóf Papp’s header put the hosts ahead but Dávid Márkvárt equalised from 17 metres just a minute after László Lencse’s penalty was beaten out by Paks goalkeeper Péter Molnár. Papp’s second header of the match regained the initiative for Paks in the 66th minute but a great strike from Patrik Tischler gave Robert Jarni’s side a second equaliser with ten minutes to go. Paks though showed great resolve and took the lead for a third time through another header, this time an own goal by the PFLA’s Stipe Bacelic-Grgic, and they rounded off the win in added time courtesy of János Hahn at the end of a counter-attack.

Still 15 points clear at the top remain Ferencváros after they thrashed capital-city rivals Vasas SC at the Groupama Aréna. Fradi were 3-0 up after 26 minutes thans to goals from Stanislav Sesták, Roland Varga and Leandro and despite Ojo Ubiparip pulling a goal back for the visitors immediately after the break, the home side pulled away again, Varga adding a second on 63 minutes and Cristian Ramirez rounding off a 5-1 victory in the 81st minute. This latest loss leaves Vasas rooted in the relegation zone, two points above bottom club Békéscsaba and two behind their nearest relegations rivals Puskás Akadémia.

Békéscsaba again initially showed their worth as an NBI team at home to Újpest, firstly taking the lead in the fourth minute through Bratislav Punosevac and withstanding 78 minutes of pressure before again folding in the final part of the match, conceding goals from Mbaye Diagne, Mihailo Perovic and Balázsa Balogh in added time to leave the newly promoted team coached by Zoran Spisljak at the bottom of the division on eight points.

Further up the table, Videoton continued their recent improved form with a 2-1 home victory over Diosgyőri VTK after recovering from Miroslav Grumics’s opener to take the three points courtesy of goals from substitute Viktor Sejben and Loic Nego. They now sit in sixth place on 18 points, three behind Debreceni VSC who could only secure a goalless draw with Budapest Honvéd who are below Vidi and Újpest in eighth spot. Diosgyőr slip to ninth but are still five points clear of the relegation zone.

Due to the forthcoming EURO 2016 qualifying play-off tie between Hungary and Norway, the Hungarian top flight will now take a break until 21st November.