First winter friendly match ends in a 1-1 draw with Zenit

Videoton played their one and only friendly match of the 10 day Dubai training camp on Wednesday. The opponents were Russian side FC Zenit. It was the first competitive match of 2017 for Henning Berg's team. Geresi and Hadzic sat the game out having missed a couple of training sessions. Simon and Fejes have began training after picking up a virus, but were not ready for the game. 

The opponents were 2008 UEFA cup winners FC Zenit, with an estimated squad value of more than 100 million euros. There really is a massive difference in the two squad values. However, this could not be seen over the 90 minutes as Vidi concentrated well throughout and played good football.

The first action of the game arrived on 5 minutes and it was enough to give Videoton the lead. Good link up play saw Kovacs pass to Patkai, who looked up and shot at goal from 20 meters. The ball rebounded off a Russian defender on its way into the net (1-0). The first goal of 2017 went to Mate Patkai.

A bit of uncertainty in the Vidi defence was seized on by Zenit minutes later. The Videoton defence looked formidable over the course of the game but Zenit made no mistake to level when Giulano tricked Fiola and then found Kokorina, who from 11 meters out sent a powerful shot into the net to make it 1-1. Lazovic was fouled three minutes later. The Serbian forward picked himself up and sent a 23 meter free kick curling just over the bar. 

Kokorin was again proving dangerous after 18 minutes, but his shot deflected off Fiola but went behind. It is interesting to note that Kokorin was a Dinamo Moscow forward earlier, and he was twice in the their side that drew 0-0 with Videoton in earlier friendly games. 

Lazovic showed very good movement on 36 minutes when he brought Suljic into play, who shot at goal from 15 meters. That brought a very good save out of keeper Lodygin. The final moment of the first half was again a move involving Lazovic and Suljic: The Bosnian got hold of the ball on the half way line, and then found Lazovic, who shot at goal from 20 meters, but the Zenit keeper was again comfortably able to deal with it. 

Henning Berg made changes at half time when he replaced Suljic, Fiola, Lazovic and Scepovic with Bodi, Varga, Szolnoki and Oliveira. There was also a change in goal with Horvath coming on in place of Kovacsik. There was a switch in formation with the 4-4-2 system being changed to 5-2-3 for the second 45 minutes. That was similar to last summer's Europa League match against Midtjylland.

The 57th minute saw Bodi hit a high ball into the box from a free kickm which was headed wide of the goal from Juhasz. The Vidi manager then made several more changes and a total of 6 with Sejben, Bevardi, Lenart, Poloskei, Varga B and Barczi all coming on for a taste of football against the Russian side. Just 5 minutes after the substitutions were made, Bevardi got a lovely ball and turned his defender, who could only foul him inside the box. The referee pointed straight at the spot. Oliveira took it and sent a good low shot towards the corner, but the keeper was equal to it and punched it clear to keep the score at 1-1.

Djordjevic sent his scissors kick on 70 minutes wide of the Vidi goal from close range after a corner. Zenit had more of the ball in the final 15 minutes but could not force a clear cut chance on the Vidi goal. Henning Berg's side defended well and were hard to get through. 

Vidi could have won the friendly match with a bit more fortune but had to settle for a final result of 1-1. The football produced was also very encouraging. The squad will fly home from Dubai on Thursday and then head off to Spain next week. Further serious friendly games are planned for the Fehervar side.