Report: 1-0 defeat away at Puskas Academy

Match 26 of the OTP league season saw a visit to Felcsut on Sunday evening. Puskas Academy went into the game in second place and with a five point advantage over Vidi. Tamas Szalai chose the following team for the top of the table clash: Kovács D. - Nego, Musliu, Stopira, Hangya - Fiola, R. Pinto - Petryak, Nikolic, Dárdai - Zivzivadze.

It looked like being a big battle and that proved the case after 20 seconds. Home player Corbu stepping on Pinto who required treatment. The first chance of the game fell to Vidi after 5 minutes. Hangya sending a ball into the middle from the left, which Nikolic could not convert. At the other end, keeper Kovacs saved comfortably from a long range effort. Geresi then flicked a 7 minute Knezevic corner wide of the goal. Knezevic curled a ball into the middle ten minutes later, which Kiss connected with but his low shot was saved well by Kovacs. 

A nice move on 31 minutes ended with Nego passing to Dardai, who shot wide of the target from close range. The ball eventually ending up in the side-netting. With 10 minutes remaining of the first half, Petryak sent a ball into the centre, which Zivzivadze met, but his shot was saved by home keeper Toth. That was the final chance of the first period with the teams going in at the break with the score at 0-0.

The second half began with a big chance for the Felcsut side: Geresi turning towards goal and shooting, which produced a big save from Kovacs. Vidi could have gone ahead a minute later following a free kick. Petryak took it and he found Zivzivadze, who headed it to Fiola, who sent his shot at goal, but it took a deflection of a defender. Knezevic took a free kick on 53 minutes from 30 meters out, which required a save from Kovacs. We went very close to breaking the deadlock after 58 minutes. Zivzivadze gaining possession and releasing Nikolic on goal, but he laid the ball back into the path of the Georgian forward, whose shot was blocked. 

That was to prove costly as Geresi curled a good ball in from the left, which was headed home by Slagveer to make it 1-0 to Puskas Academy. That goal arriving after 68 minutes, which would go on to be the games only goal. Petryak appeared to be fouled inside the box by Szolnoki, but referee Solymosi did not point at the penalty spot. Funsho also went down inside the home box after 77 minutes but again the decision did not go the way of Vidi. Funsho was also shown a yellow card. 

Knezevic shot from a tight angle after 81 minutes with the ball hitting the outside of the post before going out of play. Mance wriggled clear of his marker before shooting low and wide for the home side. There would be no change to the score in the remaining minutes as Puskas Academy stretched their lead over us to 8 points. 

There will now be a two week gap for the international break. Our team will next be in action at the start of April, which will also be under the management of Imre Szabics at the home of Kisvarda.