Újpest, which mathematically ensured its survival in the previous round, hosted Kecskemét, which was two points ahead, in the opening match of the penultimate, 32nd round of the top football championship on Friday evening. This was the host’s last home match in the 2023/2024 season, and who knows, maybe it was also the farewell to the Szusza Ferenc Stadium for the head coach, Géza Mészöly, who is completing his third season in Újpest – as we wrote earlier, according to our information, the new owner circle has not yet negotiated with him about the joint continuation.
Géza Mészöly has been managing Újpest again since February as head coach. Photo: National Sport/Attila Turök
After an individual error, the guests have the advantage
The first attempt of the match was the event of the 4th minute, a long shot from the home side narrowly missed the goal. Four minutes later, Matija Ljujcs was already closer, after a corner he put the ball in the goal from 20 meters, but Bence Varga, who was the first to throw the game, was able to save for the second time. In the 16th minute, Kecskemét had their first chance, after Pál Helmich won the ball, Tamás Nikitscher shot from the front of the penalty area, but Zsombor Molnár, defending the goal of Újpest, saved the ball. The pace was not deadly, so the audience, for lack of a better word, amused themselves – in the 20th minute, it was time to scold the opponents, the Fradist, Kispest, i.e. everyone who is not so fond of Budapest IV. in the district.
In the 27th minute, Kecskemét took the lead almost out of nowhere. The home team’s defensive midfielder, Aboubakar Keita from the Ivory Coast, almost gifted the ball to Gergő Pálinkás, who arrived in the penalty area, after a takeover. bounced into the net. The visiting team took the lead after a big mistake.
After the goal, neither team was particularly dangerous for the other’s goal, so the players could go to the halftime break with a 1-0 lead in Kecskemét.
Everything was decided with two hits
During the break, according to official data, an audience of 5,255 people celebrated the women’s water polo team from Újpest, which won the championship by defeating Ferencváros on Wednesday. After that, the second half started with a slight slip, as Ljujics had a stomach ache, but in the end the game continued with the Serbian midfielder.
Radosevics Ognjen scored a goal last week, but he couldn’t help the champions on Friday either. Photo: National Sport/Attila Turök
In the 59th minute, Kecskemé unexpectedly found the net again, Krisztofer Horváth, who received a great pass after Keita’s pass, outwitted two defenders, then shot into the goal from 16 meters, doubling the guests’ advantage (0-2). Last week, Újpest scored seven more goals against Diósgyőr, even when Pálinkás found the back of the net just five minutes later, making it 3-0. Aboubakar Keita was heavily involved in this goal as well… The home camp, which was still celebrating so enthusiastically during the break, fell silent for quite a few minutes, except when it voiced its dissatisfaction.
Even with a three-goal lead, Kecskemét did not slow down and could have scored another goal soon. Later, Újpest found the back of the net, but for the last 20 minutes the most important question was essentially decided, and the hosts could not do anything about it, so they said goodbye to their home crowd for this season with a defeat. The Kecskeméts won 3-0, hardly improving Géza Mészöly’s negotiating position regarding the continuation…
NB I, the program of the 32nd round
Friday
Újpest–Kecskemét 0-3 (0-1)
Saturday
MTK Budapest–Puskás Academy 3.30 p.m
Zalaegerszeg–Paks 17.30
Diósgyőr–Ferencváros 19.30
Sunday
Kisvárda–Mezőkövesd 14.15
Debrecen–Fehérvár 19.30
All matches can be seen live on M4 Sport!
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