Six goals shared as Vidi draw away at ZTE

Our team kicked off the new 2020-2021 league season away at Zalaegerszeg on Saturday. Manager Gabor Marton chose the following eleven for the match: Kovacsik - Bolla, Musliu, Stopira, Hangya - Patkai, Houri - Nego, Evandro, Funsho - Nikolic.

It was the home supporters who were on their feet after 2 minutes celebrating a goal. A ball forward resulted in a mistake by defender Musliu and Babati took advantage to beat Kovacsik and put ZTE a goal up (1-0). A goal mouth scramble 9 minutes later saw Vidi level. A corner ended with new signing Evandro reacting the fastest to pounce and put the ball through the legs of the keeper to make it 1-1. It was his first goal in the Hungarian OTP league since recently joining. The goals continued to come early on as ZTE went ahead for the second time in the evening. A long throw from Gergenyi was flicked on by Szepe and it ended up in the back of the net (2-1).

Nego put the ball in the home net after 18 minutes but the linesman had lifted his flag and the effort was ruled out. Bobal tested Kovacsik moments later from 18 meters, but he could not beat the Vidi keeper. Vidi hit a nice counter attack after 33 minutes with good link up play between Nikolic and Bolla. The latter bringing Nego into play on the right, and his first time ball in was cleared by a defender ahead of Funsho. Houri took a free kick two minutes later which flew over the bar. Sankovic saw his 37th minute shot go just wide of the target for the home side. Then Vidi drew level following good work beteen Evandro and Funsho, with the tricky winger eventually being brought down inside the box. The referee pointed at the spot and Nikolic sent the ball straight down the middle to make it 2-2.

Bolla was replaced at the break by Ivan Petryak and he would go on to cause problems for the home side in the second half. A left sided cross from Petryak only just failed to connect with Nikolic. Then two minutes later and another big chance was not taken. Nikolic beat a defender before rolling the ball into the path of Funsho, who from 10 meters hit the ball over the open goal. Kovacsik pulled off a good save after 60 minutes from close range after Tanasin shot from a tight angle. A minute later and Nikolic scored his second of the evening. Funsho went on a short run and did well to eventually find Nikolic, who hit a sweet curling shot that gave the home keeper no chance. It ended up in the top left corner from 18 meters. The Vidi captain was replaced by Zivzivadze on 62 minutes following that goal. It was the Georgian forward's NB I debut for Vidi. Nego was unfairly judged to have given away a penalty after 74 minutes and the match official awarded his second penalty of the game. Babati placed the ball into the bottom corner even though Kovacsik guessed the right way, 3-3.

Funsho sent a low shot into the side netting after 77 minutes while two minutes later, Zivzivadze had a shot blocked from 10 meters. The last 10 minutes included an effort from Hodzic who went close to scoring, but again the shot was blocked by a home defender. 

The game ended 3-3 just as it did last November between the two. Vidi are next up against Paks at the MOL Arena Sosto.