Plenty of created chances in a 1-1 draw with Paks

In the 2nd round of the OTP Bank League, we entertained Paks at the MOL Arena Sóstó. On the first day of the new season, the Tolna County side lost 2-1 at home to Ujpest, while we reached a 3-3 draw at ZTE.

Gabor Marton went with Kovácsik - Fiola, Musliu, Stopira, Hangya - Nikolov, Houri - Nego, Hodzic, Evandro - Nikolic in his starting eleven. Director of Football Zoltan Kovacs handed over an award to Loic Nego for the goal of the decade, which came in the EL group stage match against Chelsea in 2018.

There were not too many chances in the opening quarter of the game. Hodzic sent a low shot towards the bottom left corner but it went wide after 17 minutes. Stopira raced in for a corner a minute later as his header went over the bar from 10 meters. Hodzic volleyed on 20 minutes following a cross from the right, but it produced a save from visiting keeper Holcszer. Moments later and another well timed run by Stopira after a corner ended with the ball going well wide of the target.

With 28 minutes played, a low cross from Hodzic was pounced on by keeper Holczer ahead of Nikolic. The biggest chance of the game then arrived with Hodzic running towards goal and cleverly rounding Holczer, but he ended up putting the ball over the goal from 14 meters. Hangya was replaced by Rus after 39 minutes after the left back pulled a muscle. Close on half time, Houri showed good skills to put himself in with a chance, but his shot from a tight angle, produced a smart save from the Paks keeper. The two sides went in at the break with the score at 0-0.

The second half began with Vidi hitting the post! Evandro received a smart ball and tried to take it beyond the keeper, before shooting from 14 meters and finding the post. Hodzic saw his shot on 51 minutes almost go in off defender Lenzser following a deflection. 

Vidi had a promising move after 63 minutes, but Nego's final ball was not precise and it did not connect with Nikolic in the middle. Substitute Zivzivadze shot from 15 meters shortly after coming on, but his powerful effort went wide of the post. Petryak showed good dribbling skills on 77 minutes before shooting at goal from 16 meters, but it came off the feet of the keeper and the danger went. Paks took an unexpected lead after 80 minutes: Istvan Bognar sent a high ball in from the left, following a free kick, which was flicked on by Szabo and met at the far post by Szelpal, who put the ball into the net (0-1).

There was still time for late drama with Paks squeezed back and the leveller arriving on 92 minutes: Houri's corner was met by Hodzic in the middle and it ended up going in (1-1).

There were no further chances and the final whistle blew with the score ending 1-1. Vidi are next in action on the 27th August in the Europa League Q1 against Bohemian FC.