OTP Bank Liga: Ferencváros edge title rival to extend lead

Kaposvári Rákóczi FC 0-1 Budapest Honvéd (half-time: 0-1)
Goalscorer: Lanzafame (6.)
Kaposvári Rákóczi FC: Pogacsics - Vachtler, Ur, Tarasovs, Fodor - Nagy J. (Nagy K., 78.), Szakály A., Nagy R., Csiki - Ádám, Balázs (Trebotic, 74.)
Budapest Honvéd: Tujvel - Ikenne-King (Uzoma, 78.), Kálnoki-Kis, Kamber, Lovric, Aliji - Gazdag (Nagy G., 78.), Hidi, Kesztyűs - Lanzafame, Moutari (Ugrai, 83.)

Honvéd had Davide Lanzafame's superb individual skill to thank for an early lead, which they preserved all the way through a game they were always in control of. There was a short first-half period when they conceded territory to the hosts who created the odd chance, but the club from the capital city entirely deserved their advantage at the half-time break. In the second period, the hosts made life difficult for their opponent and even missed a great chance of their own, but the game eventually settled down into an even affair. Honvéd protected their slender lead until the final whistle and have now kept three league cleansheets in a row.

Diósgyőri VTK 2-0 Paksi FC (1-0)
Goalscorers: DIÓ: Ivanovski (28.), Hasani (79.)
DVTK: Danilovic - Vági, Polgár, Brkovic, Sesztakov - Márkvárt (Egerszegi, 83.), Iszlai - Hasani, Rui Pedro (Molnár, 66.), Kiss T. - Ivanovski (Tabakovic, 72.)
Paks: Rácz - Lenzsér, Szélpál, Kelemen, Szabó J. - Osváth (Sajbán, 55.) - Kulcsár (Szendrei, 71.), Szakály D., Bertus, Balogh B. - Hahn (Windecker, 77.)

The first half was characterised by home-team dominance and they deservedly took a 28th-minute lead through Ivanovski. Paks tried to make life uncomfortable for the Diósgyőr goalkeeper but without success and instead it was the hosts who nearly doubled their advantage after the break, only for a visiting defender to clear an effort off the goal line. Ten minutes in, Paks switched to a more attacking formation but Diósgyőr's defence and Danilovic in goal held firm. Indeed, a counter-attack led to a second goal for the away team late on, a goal which sealed the three points.

Puskás Akadémia FC 3-1 Kisvárda Master Good (1-0)
Goalscorers: PUS: Szolnoki (36.), Vanecek (66.), Urblík (75.), KIS: Gosztonyi (81.)
Red card: KIS: Ene (21.)
Puskás Akadémia FC: Hegedüs - Nagy Zs., Hadzsiev, Meissner, Szolnoki - Knezevic (Varga J., 77.), Slagveer (Sós, 83.), Plsek, Urblík - Vanecek (Mebrahtu, 86.), Gyurcsó
Kisvárda Master Good: Dombó - Protic, Ene, Theodorosz, Melnyik - Grozav, Bumba, Lucas, Sassá (Gosztonyi, 71.) - Tischler (Obradovic, 58.), Viana (Rubus, 25.)

The hosts started the better and that was compounded by Kisvárda's Romanian player Cornel Alexandru Ene receiving a red card after 21 minutes for a foul on Slagveer as he was about to shoot. Ádám Gyurcsó cannoned the ensuing free-kick against the crossbar and soon the hosts edged in front, Roland Szolnoki's cross from the right wing sailed over goalkeeper Dávid Dombó into the far side of the goal after 36 minutes. Kisvárda struck the crossbar at the beginning of the second half and a second goal for the home team was ruled out for a foul.

Vanecek did increase Puskás Akadémia's lead in the 66th minute and nine minutes later Urblík also found the net, both goals being set up by Gyurcsó. The final score of 3-1 was set when Kisvárda subtitute András Gosztonyi netted a consolation goal in the 81st minute. Puskás Akadémia's superiority is demonstrated by the fact that they had ten shots on target compared to Kisvárda's two. The Felcsút club are now unbeaten in five league matches and have broken their winless home run of six games since last triumphing at the Panchó Aréna on 19th October. In contrast, this was Kisvárda's sixth match in a row without a victory.

Zalaegerszegi TE 2-1 Újpest FC (1-1)
Goalscorers: ZTE: Radó (28., 72.), ÚJP: Calcan (17.)
Zalaegerszegi TE: Demjén - Szépe, Lesjak, Bedi, Bolla - Katelarisz, Mitrovic - Stieber (Katanec, 67.), Radó, Bőle - Ikoba (Barczi,82.)
Újpest FC: Banai - Balázs B., Heris, Litauszki, Ristevski - Onovo, Nwobodo - Pauljevic, Rácz B. (Bacsa, 80.), Calcan (Csongvai, 58.) - Perosevic (Novothny, 63.)

An early goalkeeping error nearly gifted Újpest the opener in this fixture, only for Onovo to spurn a gilt-edged chance. Nevertheless, the lilac-and-whites assumed the ascendancy and took a deserved 17-minute lead through Calcan. Zalaegerszeg's Radó equalised against the run of play but overall Újpest remained in control, albeit they couldn't score any more goals before the break. The visitors' goalkeeper Dávid Banai made a superb save early in the second half to preserve parity but he was unable to stop Radó scoring again in the 72nd minute and despite late pressure, his team was unable to draw level, thus Zalaegerszeg secured their first league win of 2020 in new head coach Gábor Márton's first league match in charge. This was Zala's first league victory over Újpest since 2nd October 2010.

Debreceni VSC 1-3 Mezőkövesd Zsóry FC (0-2)
Goalscorers: DVSC: Trujic (91.), MEZ: Pillár (29.), Zivzivadze (38.), Silye (48.)
DVSC: Kosicky - Habovda (Baráth, 71.), Szatmári, Pávkovics, Ferenczi - Csősz (Garba, 46.), Kusnyír - Bódi, Szécsi, Varga K. (Trujic, 61.) - Adeniji
Mezőkövesd: Szappanos - Farkas D., Neszterov, Pillár, Vadnai (Silye, 46.) - Karnyicki, Berecz - Cseri (Vajda, 75.), Besirovic, Nagy D. (Jurina, 84.) - Zivzivadze

Hosts Debrecen started this match on the front foot and twice tested the opposing goalkeeper in the first half-hour, Szappanos tipping Szécsi's shot over the crossbar before diverting Ádám Bódi's effort onto the left post and out for a corner. The home team dominated possession but their visitors were dangerous on the counter-attack and they proved this by scoring twice before half-time and for a third time three minutes into the second period, substitute Silye with the latter strike. To their credit, Debrecen didn't give up and indeed upped their tempo but by the end, they only had Trujic's added-time consolation goal to show for their endeavours as Mezőkövesd deservedly departed with a 3-1 success.

Ferencvárosi TC 1-0 MOL Fehérvár FC (0-0)
Goalscorers: Zubkov (51.)
Red card: Elek (87.)
Ferencváros: Dibusz - Lovrencsics (Botka, 81.), Blazic, Otigba, Civic - Haratin, Sigér - Zubkov, Isael, Nguen (Varga R., 79.) - Boli (Frimpong, 86.)
Fehérvár: Kovácsik - Hangya, Juhász R., Musliu, Stopira - Pátkai, Elek - Petrjak (Futács, 84.), Kovács I., Houri (Milanov, 75.) - Hodzic (Nikolics, 61.)

This contest started a furious pace but the home team settled into an early dominance of proceedings, Fehérvár forced to camp in their own half as Nguen struck the crossbar and his Fradi teammate Isael showed he too was in the mood. Fehérvár keeper Kovácsik needed to remain alert and three times denied the hosts an opening goal before eventually his team's defences were breached, Zubkov finishing off a splendid move after Juhász's block had landed perfectly for him to dispatch into the goal. That brought Fehérvár out of their shell and an even but scrappy second half ensued. Late on, Roland Varga earnt a penalty which resulted in Ákos Elek's dismissal for a second yellow card, but Isael's spotkick was saved by Kovácsik. Thus, Ferencváros gained their 46th league win over their opponent in their 100th meeting, having also drawn 28 times and lost the remaining 26 fixtures. In the league, Fradi are now 17 matches unbeaten and haven't lost at home for 47 games. Meanwhile, Fehérvár lost their first away match this calendar year.