Fradi win fifth Women’s Hungarian Cup in a row

It was the Budapest side’s sixth appearance in the cup final, and their fifth victory, which equals the record of Szent László Kórház SC and sees them move above city rivals MTK who have won the trophy on four occasions.

For Diósgyőr it was a first Hungarian Cup final appearance, the club only having been formed as late as summer 2016. Promoted to the top-flight in 2017, Sándor Fórizs’ team finished third in the opening phase of this season’s Jet-Sol Liga, while Ferencváros – coached by Balázs Dörnyei since being formed – led the championship at the end of the 21-round phase.

Diósgyőr had never beaten Ferencváros coming in to the final, Fradi winning their three previous encounters this season by 3-1, 4-1, and 3-1, and true to form, Ferencváros were soon in the lead with Anna Csiki scoring from the edge of the box after only twelve minutes.

Krisztina Szőke-Nagy was given plenty of work by the Ferencváros strikers as they went in search of number two, and they would double their lead in the 35th minute as Csiki scored again after being set-up by Allegra Poljak following a rapid counter-attack.

Diósgyőr fought to get back into the match and got their just reward in the 37th minute, Fanni Vachtler getting to the byline and cutting the ball back for American Hanna Barker to make the score 2-1. The Miskolc side drew level moments before the break though, Ferencváros failing to clear a corner and the ball falling kindly for Alexandra Tóth, who made no mistake.

Cup-holders Ferencváros held the upper hand in the second half, but it took them until the 70th minute to regain the lead, Evelin Fenyvesi crossing for Viktória Szabó to finish. Two minutes later and they had restored their earlier two-goal lead, Csiki finding Poljak with a fine pass and her shot going in off the post to make it 4-2.

Diósgyőr had chances to get back into the game, Barker missing a great opportunity late on before Biljana Bradić did grab a third goal for them. This time, though, Ferencváros held firm in defence, and indeed, Szőke-Nagy prevented them from scoring a fifth in injury time with a fine save.

Speaking after the match, Ferencváros head coach Balázs Dörnyei said that “We played well in the beginning and went two up, and then let our opponents get back into the match due to unforced errors. Unlike me the supporters were delighted as it made for an exciting end to the match; once Diósgyőr equalised a new match began. We weren’t as impressive in the second half, but we once again took a two-goal lead due to possessing players who can decide a match with a moment’s brilliance. We conceded again after going 4-2 ahead, but all that counts is that we won the cup, and it’s a great feeling!”

Ferencváros 4–3 Diósgyőr (HT: 2–2)

Goalscorers: FER: Csiki (12’, 35’), Szabó (70’), Poljak (72’); DIÓ: Hanna Barker (37’), Tóth (45’), Bradic (87’)

Ferencváros: Júlia Németh – Evelin Mosdóczi, Zsanett Rőhberg, Inna Zlidnis, Viktória Szabó – Sára Pusztai (Fanni Diószegi, 69’), Evelin Fenyvesi, Marija Aleksic, Csiki Anna (Virág Nagy, 86’) – Allegra Poljak, Petra Kocsán (Katalin Fogl, 85’)

Diósgyőr: Krisztina Szőke-Nagy – Christianna Kiamou, Klaudia Jáhn, Maria Ficzay, Bianca Sandu –Fanni Nagy, Fanni Vachter (Csilla Balázs, 77’), Alexandra Tóth, Amber Nicole Paul – Hanna Barker, Biljana Bradi