OTP Bank Liga: Spring season starts with Fradi win and Fehérvár stalemate

OTP Bank Liga, 17th round:

Ferencvárosi TC 4–0 Paksi FC (HT: 2–0)
Groupama Aréna, ref.: Iványi
Goalscorers: FTC: Zubkov (3., 65.), Boli (43.), Isael (51.)
Yellow cards: FTC: Sigér (19.), PAKS: Lenzsér (53.), Kecskés (57.), Poór (61.), Szabó J. (62.)

Ferencváros: Dibusz – Lovrencsics, Blazic, Otigba, Civic – Haratin, Sigér (Vécsei, 77.) – Zubkov (Varga R., 70.), Isael, Nguen (Lodico, 70.) – Boli
Paks: Rácz – Kulcsár D., Lenzsér (Szélpál, 83.), Gévay, Poór, Szabó J. – Balogh B., Kecskés (Szakály D., 60.), Bertus – Könyves (Szendrei, 73.), Böde

Paks confirmed their defensive intentions by playing five at the back but the hosts created two chances in the first three minutes, Zubkov succeeding where Isael failed by giving Fradi an early lead. Ferencváros dominated possession thereafter but despite this, they didn't unduly threaten Paks' goal, at least until FrankBoli doubled the home team's advantage just before half time.

Isael then extended that lead to three goals with a 51st-minute free-kick before Paks incurred four yellow cards in the following ten minutes. Zubkov brought an end to the scoring with a spectacular finish just after the hour mark, in doing so confirming a 14th unbeaten league match in a row for the reigning champions and an extraordinary 45th consecutive avoidance of defeat at home. Serhiy Rebrov's side have also defeated the team from Tolna county four times in succession now, with a goal ratio of 14 to zero.

Kaposvári Rákóczi FC 1–1 Puskás Akadémia FC (1–1)
Kaposvár, , ref.: Erdős
Goalscorers: KAP: Nagy R. (20.), PUS: Golgol (14.)
Red card: PUS: Van Nieff (69.)
Yellow cards: KAP: Tarasovs (68.), PUS: Van Nieff (36., 69.), Spandler (87.)

Kaposvári Rákóczi: Pogacsics – Vachtler, Tarasovs, Hegedűs D., Fodor M. – Jakimiv (Nagy K., 87.), Nagy J. – Csiki (Zsiga, 89.), Szakály A. (Beliczky, 87.), Nagy R. – Balázs Zs.
Puskás Akadémia: Hegedüs L. – Szolnoki, Meissner, Spandler, Deutsch – Van Nieff - Plsek (Slagveer, 66.), Favorov – Golgol – Gyurcsó (Sós B., 89.), Vanecek (Urblík, 72.)

Both teams had excellent early chances to take the lead but neither could convert, Nagy finding the sidenetting for the hosts and his goalkeeper Pogacsics producing early heroics to maintain parity. Even so, it wasn't long before the deadlock was broken, Sudanese-born, Australian national Golgol scoring his first top-flight goal in the 14th minute, only for Kaposvár to equalise almost immediately. The home team then had the momentum but they couldn't keep it up for long.

Into the second half and Puskás Akadémia started to spend most of their time in the opposing half and their rivals responded by breaking up play with a series of niggly fouls. Halfway through the second half, Van Nieff was dismissed for a second bookable offence and thus the pressure on Kaposvár dissipated, both teams eventually leaving with a point each.

MOL Fehérvár FC 0–0 Budapest Honvéd FC
MOL Aréna Sóstó, ref.: Berke
Yellow cards: HON: Ikenne King (33.), Lanzafame (86.)
Red cards: HON: Aliji (91.)

Fehérvár: Kovácsik – Fiola, Musliu, Vinícius, Stopira – Pátkai, Elek – Nego (Houri, 46.), Kovács I., Petrjak (Milanov 59.) – Futács (Hodzic 75.)
Honvéd: Tujvel – Ikenne King (Uzoma 73.), Batik, Kamber, Lovric, Aliji – Banó-Szabó, Kesztyűs, Hidi – Lanzafame, Moutari (George 72.)

Honvéd started this fixture the more aggressive of the two teams, particularly Amadou Moutari, who hit a post and then threatened from distance. Fehérvár soon also settled into the game and took control after 20 minutes, Loic Nego, Ivan Petrjak and Visar Musliu all going close to opening the scoring.

That trend continued after the break, Tomas Tujvel kicking away István Kovács's close-range effort and Márkó Futács seeing a strike ruled out for offside as the home side pressed hard but Honvéd defended stoically and might even have snatched victory, Bence Banó-Szabó hitting the woodwork after earning a clear sight of goal. The visitors eventually ended the match with only ten men after Naser Alijit was dismissed.

Zalaegerszegi TE FC 1–3 Diósgyőri VTK (0–0)
Zalaegerszeg, ref.: Karakó
Goalscorers: ZTE: Bobál G. (47., pen.), DIÓ: Brkovic (53.), Polgár (61.), Hasani (93.)
Yellow cards: ZTE: Bedi (60.), Mitrovic (63.), Babati (91.)

Zalaegerszegi TE FC: Demjén – Bolla, Bobál D., Lesjak, Bedi – Stieber, Mitrovic (McWoods, 76.), Kocsis G., Radó (Babati, 65.) – Ikoba, Bobál G. (Katelarisz, 62.)
DVTK: Danilovic – Sesztakov, Polgár, Brkovic, Tamás M. – Márkvárt, Vági – Hasani, Rui Pedro (Cortes, 81.), Kiss T. (Egerszegi, 88.) – Ivanovszki (Tabakovic, 76.)

Diósgyőr started with great purpose and missed a big chance to score as early as the first minute of the game. They continued to threaten Demjen's goal but Zalaegerszeg came back into the game and created several chances of their own. Nevertheless, the game remained goalless at half-time, but that all changed early in the second half, both teams getting on the scoresheet. The hosts took the lead via a penalty before the visitors from Miskolc levelled matters following a corner. A superbly-executed free-kick routine then helped Diósgyőr take the lead and they secured the three points through Hasani's late strike.

Mezőkövesd Zsóry FC 1–0 Kisvárda Master Good (1–0)
Mezőkövesd, ref.: Solymosi
Goalscorer: MEZ: Nesterov (18.)
Red card: KIS: Simovic (45.)
Yellow cards: MEZ: Karnyicki (81.), KIS: Karaszjuk (27.), Simovic (32., 45.), Hej (42.), Protic (53.)

Mezőkövesd: Szappanos – Farkas, Guzmics, Neszterov, Vadnai – Cseri, Berecz, Karnyicki, Besirovic (Meszhi, 89.) – Zivzivadze (Takács, 83.), Nagy D. (Pekár, 74.)
Kisvárda: Dombó – Hej, Beriosz, Rubus, Protic – Karaszjuk (Bumba, 41.), Simovic, Obradovic – Cukalasz (Melnyik, 71.) – Kovácsréti (Viana, 66.), Grozav

Mezőkövesd dominated the first half of this fixture and deservedly took the lead through Nesterov in the 18th minute. Kisvárda werestruggling to deal with the league's third-placed team and failed to create much in the way of chances to haul themselves back into the match, a situation which worsened when Simovic's second yellow card reduced them to ten players. To their credit, Kisvárda were competitive throughout the second period and arguably had the better goalscoring chances, but there was to be no change in the scoreline, Mezőkövesd thus claiming a narrow win.

Debreceni VSC 4–0 Újpest FC (0–0)
Debrecen, ref.: Farkas Á.
Goalscorers: Szécsi (49., 53.), Bódi (68., pen.), Adeniji (73.)
Red card: Bacsa (67.)
Yellow cards: Kusnyír (33.), Szécsi (51.), Csősz (91.), ÚJP: Szakály P. (7.), Burekovic (34.)

DVSC: Kosicky – Bényei, Kinyik, Pávkovics, Ferenczi – Haris (Csősz, 84.) – Bódi, Kusnyír (Baráth, 82.), Varga K. – Adeniji, Szécsi
Újpest: Banai – Pauljevic, Heris, Ristevski, Burekovic – Onovo (Bacsa, 62.), Szakály P. (Csongvai, 62.) – Nwobodo, Zsótér, Simon K. (Bjarnasson, 62.) – Novothny

Debrecen were in control of the match from the outset, Újpest essentially having to defend from the edge of their own penalty area, but the game remained goalless until early in the second half when goals from Szécsi and Adeniji in quick succession - both set up by the unselfish Kevin Varga - decided the destination of the points. Debrecen scored twice more thereafter and Újpest's Bacsa was dismissed just five minutes after coming on as a substitute as the visitors effectively imploded, the hosts eventually triumphing 4-0.