Our men's football team, the defending Hungarian champions, played as guests of Budapest Honvéd in the 28th round of the OTP Bank League. Head coach Stanislav Cherchesov fielded a starting line-up of Dibusz - Botka, Blazic, Kovacevic, Civic - Esiti, Vécsei - Zachariassen, Tokmac, Marquinhos - R. Mmaee for the match at the Bozsik Arena.

First half

We had to wait until the fifth minute for the first chance of the match, when Dominik Nagy shot from the edge of the box but missed the target. Two minutes later, Botka's lightning-quick throw-in was taken by Zachariassen to set up Ryan Mmaee, and the Moroccan international shot just into the bottom right (0-1).

In the 13th minute, Honvéd had two more chances, but first Dibusz headed home a corner from the right and then Kovacevic cut out the ball inside the penalty area. In the 20th minute, the home side tried a cross from the edge of the box, but Blazic was in the right place to stop the attack.

Two minutes later, Botka was left on the ground, the referee failed to signal, but Kispest were unable to complete the attack as Kovacevic made a brilliant run in front of Lukic. Moments later, Zsótér shot from outside the penalty area but missed the target. In the 29th minute, the home number 11 was on target again but missed the target badly.

After half an hour Kadiri also shot but Dibusz saved and a corner was taken. After the corner kick, Marquinhos was fouled in the penalty area and a free kick was awarded from a dangerous position. Meanwhile, Honvéd made a substitution: the injured Dominik Nagy was replaced by Bőle. Zsótér took the awarded free kick and curled it into the top left corner (1-1).

There could have been a quick reply, but after Marquinhos' pass Tokmac's shot hit the post and the score remained 1-1. Five minutes before the end of the first half, the visitors had a chance, but Dibusz made a great save to keep out an attempt from the bottom right corner. In the first minute of extra time, the home side's header came from close range, but the Hungarian goalkeeper saved again.

There were no more goals in the first half, so the teams went into the break with a 1-1 draw.

Second half

We had to wait for the first serious chance of the second half, when Civic's sharp cross was missed by Zachariassen in the middle, but Szappanos collected the ball. Three minutes later, Ryan Mmaee launched Botka between the legs of Tamás Mmaee, who found Zachariassen, but Batik was well paced to intercept.

In the 52nd minute, Zsótér crossed the ball into the middle, Lukic missed but Bőle did not, however, Dibusz made a sensational save. A minute later, Zachariassan fired in a cross from Tokmac, but Szappanos had no trouble with his effort from midfield. In the 54th minute two substitutions were made, with Loncar and Laidouni replacing Esiti and Marquinhos.

Our Tunisian international midfielder's first touch of the ball was a great tease for Tokmac, who burst in from the left wing but his shot was easily saved by Szappanos. A minute later, Vécsei's brilliant vision put Civic in front of goal, but the home goalkeeper saved a corner. In the 63rd minute, after a foul by Tokmac, Honvéd scored from a promising free kick. Zsótér's shot was blocked by the wall, Tamás's follow-up was saved by Dibusz.

In the 65th minute, Budapest Honvéd also made a substitution, with Hidi coming on for Bőle. In the 68th minute Civic was left on the floor. The Bosnian striker was unable to continue, and was replaced by Pászka, who was making his first appearance in the NB I - he had previously only played in the preparation match against Szeged and in NB III.

In the 74th minute, Ryan Mmaee tried to score from the penalty spot, but Szappanos saved. With a quarter of an hour to go, two substitutions were made: Botka was replaced by Samy Mmaee, while Ryan Mmaee was replaced by Bassey. In the 82nd minute, Tokmac and Loncar lined up for the awarded free kick, the latter shot but only hit the line wall, and the follow-up was fired into the reading Blazic.

Just when it looked like the score would remain 1-1, a corner was awarded in the first minute of extra time. After the ball was headed in, both Miha Blazic and Kristoffer Zachariassen jumped up to head the ball in, and the latter bounced the ball into the goal from close range to put us back in the lead (1-2)!

The lead we gained in the second half was finally maintained and we increased our lead to 12 points ahead of Puskás Akadémia, who will play their chasing team on Sunday.

Our next match will be on Wednesday, April 20, when we will be the guests of ETO FC in the semi-final of the MOL Hungarian Cup.