A draw against the Slovenian champions

Vidi were in pre-season friendly action on Wednesday. The game was played in nice 12c sunny weather in a behind closed doors game. The opponents were Slovenian champions NK Maribor.

Robert Feczesin had two early chances, the first a header, which keeper Handanovic dealt with. The second effort was a shot from 22 meters that went towards the bottom right corner, but Handovics parried the ball and the rebound fell to Geresi, who from a tight angle, brought another save from the home keeper. 

Ibraimi and Mendi the played a one-two shortly after, with the latter finding himself with a chance on goal, but he shot wide of the right post from 13 meters. Maribor took the lead after 27 minutes: a shot from the right rebounded off Juhasz, with the ball falling to Mendy, who made no mistake from 5 meters (1-0). The 37th minute saw Vrsic dribble and then hit a left footed shot from 16 meters, which brought out a save from keeper Kovacsik. Juhasz went forward on 40 minutes and squared the ball in to the middle, which Simon just failed to connect with.

Feczesin chased a ball at the end of the first half, which Sme had the advantage, but both players fell to the ground, and the match official sent off the Slovenian defender. Alen Borosak decided that it had been a goalscoring chance, and that the Maribor defender had committed a foul. Heffler took the resulting free kick from 18 meters, which Handanovic saved. The home team went in 1-0 up at the break.

Vidi started the second half at a good tempo and found the equalizer inside the first minute: Stopira passed the ball back to Heffler, who curled a ball from the left towards goal, and Feczesin headed from 10 meters in to the bottom right hand corner. (1-1).

Kovacsik was well placed to save from Suler after 49 minutes, while Bohar shot from a tight angle moments later. Haraszti was brought down inside the box after 53 minutes. The referee pointed at the spot and Kovacs confidently scored the resulting penalty (1-2).

The reply came after 65 minutes when Tavares found the bottom left corner from 15 meters (2-2). Obradovic did well to deny a poweful 18 meters shot from Haraszti after 69 minutes, while Heffler also had a try from a similar position, which went over the bar. Rahmanovic then shot from 28 meters out, which produced a smart save from Kovacsik. Haraszti had a shot, which was punched clear by the Maribor keeper, but the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Vidi are next in action on Saturday, when the entertain Debrecen at the Sostoi.