Match Report: Defeat in Mezőkövesd

We played the opening match of the 19th round of the OTP Bank League in Mezőkövesd on Friday evening. Compared to last week, Szabolcs Huszti could not count on Kasper Larsen and Loic Nego due to injury, but Alef was back in the squad after a long absence. The starting line-up was as follows: Kovács D. - Fiola, Serafimov, Stopira, Heister - Flores, Christensen - Kastrati, Dárdai, Schön - Kodro.

The home team started the game better, in the first minutes Karnitski's shot was blocked, then Drazic's attempt was saved by Kovács. We reacted quickly, Heister and Kodro tried to score at the other end, but neither of their shots posed a big threat to the Mezőkövesd goal, Kovács saved the ball after Kastrati's shot bounced to him. 18 minutes into the game, our Kosovan winger was tackled at the corner of the home penalty area, Lirim had to be treated after the incident, Berke's whistle remained silent.

However, in the 34th minute Kastrati gave Vidi the lead! After Dárdai's cross, the home defenders were clumsy, the Kosovo international thanked him and scored a great goal from about 13 meters (0-1)! Unfortunately, a goal was scored practically from the restart, Besirovic finding the net from 15 meters - he shot cleverly into the bottom right corner (1-1). The first half of the game ended after two minutes of extra time.

At the break, Ephestion was replaced by Babunski for the home team, we made no substitutions. The second half started with a Dárdai shot and four minutes later Kodro's header was saved by Piscitelli.  In the first quarter of an hour of the half, Molnár and Schön had efforts and in the 64th minute our winger was brought down inside the penalty area, but Berke saw no foul this time either.

Pokorny replaced Christensen in the 69th minute. Seven minutes later, Dárdai's 19-metre shot was cleared by the Italian goalkeeper from the far post, and Fiola flicked the rebound over the top. In the 78th minute, Pokorny tried a shot from 16 yards out but the goal was not troubled, and a minute later Piscitelli was at work again when Kastrati's header from a five-metre free-kick was cleared off the line by the in-form keeper.

In extra time Drazic jumped out and at the end of the counter attack he gave Lukic the wrong ball, so this chance was not followed by a home goal, but in the 92nd minute Vajda's shot hit Serafimov's elbow, according to the referee, after which our defender was sent off with a second yellow card by Berke, and Drazic scored the penalty, Kövesd won 2-1.