Match Report: We left Zalaegerszeg without a point

In the 21st round of the OTP Bank League we played in Zalaegerszeg on Saturday afternoon. This time Szabolcs Huszti went for the starting eleven of Kovács D. - Nego, Csongvai, Larsen, Heister - Pető, Flores, Houri - Katona, Kodro, Schön - the coaching staff could not count on Besé, Serafimov, Fiola and Dárdai due to minor muscle injuries, and Kastrati was absent due to suspension. Born in 2005, 18-year-old Milan Pető made his first career NB I match. The match started with a minutes silence due to the death of Zalaegerszeg club icon Miklós Lendvai.

The match started well for us, we took the lead in the 5th minute! Schön made a nice run down the left, his cross was met by Katona in the middle, who shook off his defenders and headed the ball back over Demjén, and bounced over the line (0-1)! Almost a quarter of an hour after the goal, Szalay's shot was confidently saved by Kovács, and three minutes later, Németh stepped up to take the initiative from Sankovic, shooting from an acute angle, but our goalkeeper made a good save with his foot.

The match was almost thirty minutes old when after a nice trick, Tajti took a shot from about 22 meters, Kovács tipped the ball away for the corner. In the 32nd minute, however, our goalkeeper was helpless after Szalay's cross found Csóká completely empty, who headed home from 10 metres (1-1). Before the end of the half, a corner kick was flicked on by Kodro in his own box bit it went behind the goalline, but the home side failed to create any danger after the corner kick, and a close range header from Németh closed the half.

ZTE also started the second half better, with Németh and Huszti's efforts blocked by Larsen, and Tajti's long range attempt wizzing past the left post. The game was 52 minutes old when Szalay's 28-metre free kick was confidently saved by Kovács. ZTE took the lead in the 55th minute: This time Szalay struck the ball better than before and the free kick from 18 meters went into the top left corner for a great goal (2-1). After the goal, Milan Pető was replaced by Levente Szabó and Katona well place in position, but Demjén saved. Two minutes later, Németh's free-kick crashed wide of the goal.

Christensen replaced Houri in the 62nd minute, and seven minutes later Schön crossed in a promising position for Demjen, but unfortunately the ball bounced off the post. A minute later Tajti powered over the bar. The last 20 minutes were more about yellow cards than situations - Ikoba, Schön and Flores were yellow carded, while only Nego tried to shoot. At the start of the four minutes of extra time, Heister fired a corner towards goal, but Demjén was alert and at the end, Adam Farkas blew the final whislte. After the match, the coaching staff remembered Miklós Lendvai with a candle-lighting ceremony at the memorial at the ZTE Arena.