HUNGARIAN CUP
PRELIMINARY
Paksi FC–Kisvárda Master Good 2–1 (1–1)
Fat, Paksi FC Stadium, 1798 viewer. Led by: Forest
Fat: Szappanos – Vas, Kinyik, Lenzsér, Silye (Kovács K., 71.) – Osváth, Windecker (Mezei, 71.), Papp K., Vécsei (Balogh B., 80.), Hahn (Böde, 86.) – B. Tóth (Haraszti, 80.). Head coach: György Bognár
Kisvárda: D. Petkovics – Cipetic, Lippai, Jovicic, Körmendi (Balogh N., 84) – Matic, Makowski (Ötvös, 62), Melnik (B. Nikolov, 73) – Navrátil (A. Filipovic, 73), Mesanovic, Spazics (Camaj, 62). Head coach: Tamás Feczkó
Scorer: Papp K. (27.), Hahn (53.), ill. Matic (21.)
BIG COAT, SCARF, UMBRELLA – these were all needed by those who watched the first semi-final of the Mol Hungarian Cup on Tuesday night in Paks. Compared to the fact that recently people were cheering on matches in shorts and T-shirts, the winter weather arrived in the second half of April. In addition, a lot of rain fell on the field before the start, so the match started in less than ideal conditions.
It was not surprising that Paks modified its usual tactical order somewhat. He suffered five defeats in the previous five matches, so it was understandable that György Bognár felt that he had to change something. This time, Barna Tóth and János Hahn were the two wedges, three midfielders were behind him, while two defensive midfielders played in front of the three defenders. Strangely enough, Kisvárda, which many considered as a sure-fire team, came to this meeting in better shape, the team coached by Tamás Feczkó found itself in the last few weeks and won spectacular victories or scored a point a few days ago in the Groupama Arena as a guest of Ferencváros, but the big team gathered in the autumn maybe it came together late due to a disadvantage.
Either way: Paks started with more momentum, Barna Tóth could have aimed for the guests’ goal from close range right after the start, but he didn’t hit it, and in the first quarter of an hour, the ball bounced around or inside the Várda penalty area. Kisvárda defended in an organized and disciplined manner, and to prove the form in which they were expecting this match, they scored a goal in their first real opportunity: after a corner. Bernardo Matic headed the ball into the goal of Péter Szappanos. Even in the auditorium, you could feel how much the visitors’ will to fight increased with the advantage, while the Paksians, who have been struggling for weeks, lacked a lot, just not a start like this. But we didn’t have to wait long for the home reaction, János Hahn handled the ball skillfully Kristóf Papp put it in front of him, who equalized.
Unfortunately, neither side changed jerseys during the break, so the home team continued to play in green and the visiting team in red, and due to the similar color it was confusing to determine which team’s player had the ball. On the other hand, it turned out in black and white that the Kisvárda team would quickly take back the lead, the second half started with their dynamic action, and on the home side, the great sprint and slide of the recently arrived Bálint Vécsei was needed to save – he won a lot of applause, it seemed that he quickly liked his new club fans. Then Barna Tóth won his umpteenth duel and teased him at a great pace János Hahn, who could skate from the halfway line towards the Kisvárda goal. In the past period, the former top scorer was often unable to score a goal for weeks or months, and he really needed an important goal mentally – this time he did not make a mistake. So the host reversed the result, and from here on the question was whether Kisvárda had enough energy to innovate.
The guests tried everything, even hit the crossbar, but the result did not change. 2–1
Is Paks’ bad streak over?
However, we will get an answer to this in the coming weeks, but it is clear that the green and whites really pulled themselves together, played football much more aggressively than in the past period, so after 2022 they will be back in the Puskás Arena, where they can play the Mol Hungarian Cup final on May 15 -I.
