Hungarian League, Round 18: Mezőkövesd hurt Ferencváros hopes

OTP Bank Liga, week 18 round-up: Leaders Vasas comfortable victors over Diósgyőr, Mezőkövesd’s run of form continues, Újpest and MTK share the points whilst Honvéd and Paks both win. Here, we round up all the action.

Mezőkövesd-Zsóry 2-0 Ferencváros (1-0)

Goalscorers: Molnár (44’), Bačelić-Grgić (80’, penalty)
Visitors Ferencváros were without Thomas Doll on the bench due to suspension, his place being taken by Csaba Máté. Defences were on top and chances few and far between in the first half, Marek Střeštík missing perhaps the best opportunity before Gábor Molnár got the better of Ádám Pintér and slotted coolly past Dénes Dibusz to give Mezőkövesd the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Ferencváros had the lion’s share of possession in the second half but proved susceptible to the counter attack, one such instance seeing Dominik Nagy handling in the box as he attempted to block a shot from Branko Pauljević. Stipe Bačelić-Grgić duly sent Dibusz the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-0 as Attila Pintér’s side climb to fifth.

Paksi FC 2-1 Swietelsky Haladás (1-1)

Goalscorers: PAK: Koltai (14’ penalty), D. Szakály (60’); HAL: Gaál (38’)
Paks were immediately on the front foot at home to Haladás, midfielder Tamás Koltai giving them a 14th minute lead from the penalty spot after Dénes Szakály was adjudged to have been fouled in the box. Haladás equalised not long before half time through a Bálint Gaál free-kick. The home side retook the lead in the 60th minute, Szakály chipping Gyurján from the edge of the box with the outside of his boot for what turned out to be the winner. Paks now climb out of the relegation spots whilst Haladás slip to sixth.

Gyirmót FC-Budapest Honvéd 0-4 (0-0)

Goalscorers: HON: Prosser (49’), Holender (61’), Kamber (78’), Hidi (83’)
Honvéd dominated possession in the first half but failed to make the most of their chances. Marco Rossi’s side eventually took the lead through Dániel Prosser in the 49th minute after he was played in by Filip Holender. Holender then scored himself as Honvéd doubled their lead from a quick counter-attack just after the hour. Djordje Kamber made it three when he headed home following a corner in the 78th, before Patrik Hidi completed the scoring following some tenacious play from Donát Zsótér. Honvéd are now undefeated in five matches whilst Gyirmót are without a win in seven.

MTK Budapest 1-1 Újpest FC (0-1)

Goalscorers: MTK: Poór (49’); ÚJP: Bardhi (17’)
Újpest began the brighter of the two sides and duly took the lead in the 17th minute through Enis Bardhi, the Macedonian international midfielder tucking home after Balázs Balogh had seized upon a stray pass across the MTK defence. Nemanja Andric came close to making it two just before the break, his shot hitting the post with Danijel Petković beaten. MTK levelled the game not long into the second half, Patrik Poór – in his 100th NB I match – bundling the ball over the line from close range after a József Kanta corner had evaded Dávid Banai.

Vasas 3-0 DVTK (0-0)

Goalscorers: VAS: Németh (OG 58’), Vaskó (61’), Berecz (75’)
A less-than-full-strength Diósgyőr held league leaders Vasas at bay until Milán Németh deflected a shot from Benedek Murka past Ivan Radoš and into his own goal 12 minutes into the second half. Tamás Vaskó scored Vasas’ second moments later, firing home at the back post following a free kick from Martin Ádám. The Angyalföld side wrapped up the scoring and the points with quarter of an hour left to play, Zsombor Berecz finding the net after good interplay with Botond Király.

DVSC 0-1 Videoton FC (0-0)

Goalscorer: VID: Hadžić (61’)
Neither side undertook a particularly risky strategy in a first half which was bereft of chances, defences standing firm. The match livened up in the second half, István Verpecz saving a fierce Danko Lazović effort. The deadlock was broken in the 61st minute, Anel Hadžić beating Dániel Tőzsér to the ball at the edge of the box before rifling a shot into the roof of the net. Debrecen came close to equalising on a number of occasions thereafter, Dávid Holman and Róbert Vittek both missing chances as the visitors held on to keep up the pressure on leaders Vasas.

Photo: MTI

Source: MLSZ – press release