An early header from Patkai gave Vidi the lead but the home side levelled towards the end.
After more than two months of a forced rest, Vidi were back in competitive action again on Saturday evening. The first leg of the Hungarian Cup semi-final was held at the home of Mezőkövesd at 6pm. Manager Joan Carrillo started with the following side: Kovácsik - Fiola, Musliu, Vinícius, Stopira - Pátkai, Houri - Funsho, Kovács, Petryak - Nikolics.
In the 2nd minute of the match, Houri's 20-meter shot just avoided the home goal, then ten minutes later Vidi took the lead: Houri took a low free kick and Pátkai got down low to cleverly flick the ball into the back of the net from about 10 meters (0-1).
A minute later and Karnácski saw his header well saved by Vidi keeper Kovacsik. In the 27th minute Besirovic broke towards goal, but Fiola slipped in well and cleared the danger. With 34 minutes played, Besirovic threatened again, when he volleyed just wide following a cross. Five minutes before the end of the half, Kovacsik saved nicely from Zivzivadze's 12-meter, low but powerful shot. Berecz shot low and it came back off the right post from 15 meters, and the rebound was met by Cseri, but Fiola bravely blocked the shot with his body.
There were no changes made by either manager at half time as Vidi went into the dressing room with a single goal lead from Patkai.
In the 50th minute Berecz shot over from 20 meters. The action continued 10 minutes later when Houri tried to find Petryak with the ball, but our French midfielder just over hit it. In the 64th minute, Karnitski fired from 12 yards from a great position wide of goal. Nego was given a chance to change things just after coming on and he met a neat ball from Houri, but his volley went over the bar. Then 3 minutes later, Petryak's shot escaped the home goal. In the 80th minute, Mezőkövesd equalized, when a corner was met close range by Pillár who made no mistake to find the back of the net (1-1).
3 minutes after the goal, the referee sent Attila Kuttor to the dressing room after he complained. Just before the start of the 4-minutes of injury time, Houri's chance was caught by Szappanos in the home goal. The games final chance came following a nice attack, with Hodzic's low pass from the left clipping Futács, but the effort went wide. Our team played out a draw in the first leg of the cup semi-finals, but the away goal could still be worth a lot in the second leg, which kicks off on Tuesday at 18.00 at the MOL Arena Sóstó, behind closed doors.
Author: David Rechnitzer