Hungarian Cup: Nagy puts Újpest in control of semi-final

2018. április. 23., 21:17 |

Two goals from Dániel Nagy helped Újpest to a 2-1 win in the first leg of their Hungarian Cup semi-final at home against Balmazújváros, but a late goal from the visitors' Arabuli has kept their opponents firmly in the tie. Elsewhere, Puskás Akadémia have one foot in the final after overwhelming Debrecen 4-0 at home.

Hosts Újpest started in impressive fashion at their Megyeri út stadium and went ahead in the 19th minute when Nagy scored from 16 metres out. Twelve minutes later, Nagy doubled his team's lead with a shot from just outside the penalty area and the 2016 finalists preserved that lead for nearly an hour before Arabuli halved the deficit in the 85th minute, his close-range effort from a rebound sneaking in after his header from a right-wing cross had been beaten away by Pajovic in the Újpest goal. This meant the final result was 2-1 with Balmazújváros having earned what could be a crucial away goal ahead of the second leg on 9th May.

In the other semi-final, Puskás Akadémia thrashed ten-man Debrecen 4-0 in the Pancho Aréna to take a huge step towards their first ever Hungarian Cup final appearance. Two goals from Henty did the early damage before Kinyik's red card for a foul inside the Debrecen penalty area gave Perosevic the chance to step up and convert his team's third from the spot. Knezevic rounded off a superb day for the club from Felcsút with a fourth goal to finish off a flowing move in the 79th minute.

Újpest FC 2-1 Balmaz Kamilla Gyógyfürdő (HT: 2-0)
Újpest: Pajovic – Balázs B., Bojovic, Litauszki, Burekovic – Onovo, Sankovic – Pauljevic (Zsótér, 67.), Nagy D., Nwobodo (Cseke, 74.) – Novothny (Tischler, 79.).
Balmazújváros: Pogacic – Habovda, Póti, Rus, Uzoma – Vajda S. (Harsányi, 76.), Sigér D., Batarelo (Erdei, 67.), Majszuradze – Arabuli, Andric (Rudolf, 32.).
Goalscorers: ÚJP: Nagy D. (19., 33.), BAL: Arabuli (85.)

Puskás Akadémia 4–0 Debreceni VSC (HT: 3–0)
PAFC: Hegedüs – Poór, Spandler, Hegedűs J., Trajkovski – Molnár G., Balogh B., Mevoungou, Knezevic (U. Diallo, 80.), Perosevic (Prosser, 69.) – Henty (Szakály P., 85.).
DVSC: Kosicky – Bényei, Kinyik, Szatmári, Mészáros N. – Bódi, Tőzsér, Jovanovic, Varga K. (Filip, 80.) – Mengolo (Takács T., 54.), Könyves (Sós B., 46.).
Goalscorers: PUS: Henty (2., 31.), Perosevic (43.), Knezevic (79.)
Red card: Kinyik (42.)