Match Report: Home draw against Puskas Academy

MOL Vidi FC took on Puskas Academy FC in match 30 of the OTP league on Saturday at the MOL Arena Sosto. Vidi had won the first 10 NB I matches against the Felcsut side but have not picked up a point in the last two games. 

Manager Marko Nikolic was missing Anel Hadzic who was sent off against Ferencvaros. Also out were long term injured players Attila Fiola and Szilveszter Hangya. However, there was a return at the heart of defence for Roland Juhasz and Paulo Vinicius after the pair missed the midweek cup win at Debrecen. 

Visiting manager Andras Komjati had Varga, Urblik and Balogh not available, while Osvath, Tamas, Bachana and Taylor were also out. There was a place for Heris and Spandler on the bench. 

The first chance of the game went to the visitors who often tried from long range. With 5 minutes played, Gonzalo Vega had an effort go over, while Nikolov had a similar chance at the other end. A corner for Puskas was met by Szakaly, whose shot from 13 meters was saved by Kovacsik.

Szolnoki sent his shot on 19 minutes at goal, as did Nagy 3 minutes later but neither threatened to break the deadlock. Vidi took over the game in the minutes that followed. There were three dangerous chances for Vidi with Juhasz heading back to the near post following a corner but it produced a very good stop from Hegedus. A similar chance ended with Vinicius flicking the ball, but again the keeper got his hand to it. The last of the trio of efforts again saw Juhasz rise but Hegedus stepped in to intercept and the ball was eventually cleared. 

Knezevic sent his 28th minute free kick over the bar while two minutes later, Nagy powered his shot that was saved by Kovacsik. Zsolt Nagy took the ball to the edge of the box after 37 minutes and shot, but it was not a clean shot and it bounced wide of the goal. Kovacs then had a chance three minutes later as a ball forward by Milanov went beyond Hegedus, before pulling the ball on goal with his left. The ball went over Hegedus but ended up in the side netting. That proved to be the final chance of the first half. 

Neither manager made a change at the break. Nikolov lifted the ball to Nego after 49 minutes, but Hegedus managed to get a hand to it. The French-Hungarian player did not fall to the ground and referee Kassai did not point at the spot. 

It was different after 52 minutes: Kovacs beat two defenders and Zsolt Nagy stuck his leg out to bring down the Vidi midfielder. This time Kassai awarded a penalty and Milanov sent a low shot into the corner of the net from the penalty spot (1-0).

Nego sent in a cross after 60 minutes for Futacs to race in and send a dangerous header at goal, but it finally bounced wide of the left post. The game then went quiet without any real chance, although there were several shots from long distance but not caused either keeper any problem. 

The visitors levelled with an unfortunate goal after 84 minutes: Kiss crossed the ball and it ended up in between Juhasz, Vinicius and Kovacsik. The ball came off the Vidi captain and Kovacsik got the final touch for an unfortunate own goal (1-1).

Vidi pressed forward for the remainder of the game but Tamas Kiss broke away with a counter that produced a good stop from Kovacsik. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and it means that the 2018-19 champions are FTC with three games left to play.