Vidi and Slovan share 2-2 friendly draw

Our second summer friendly match started at 32 degrees in the early evening heat. Our team were guests of SK Slovan Bratislava at the Tehelné Pole Stadium in Bratislava. The home side went in to the match on the back of a 1-0 victory on Saturday, while we played a 0-0 draw away at Szombathelyi Haladas over the weekend.

The record between the two clubs is fairly balanced. There have been four games with Slovan and two have ended in a draw while we have won one and so have the Slovakian side. 

According to preliminary information, Jan Kozak, the manager of the home team, sent the strongest possible eleven out onto the pitch, with only the goalkeeper post appearing not to be occupied by the number one keeper. Dominik Greif was his replacement. Michal Sulla was given a chance while Moha was left out of the squad.

Gabor Marton chose the following eleven: Kovacsik – Bolla, Musliu, Stopira, Hangya – Nikolov, Patkai – Nego, Houri, Petryak – Zivzivadze.

A free kick from Hangya after 10 minutes was cleared by the Slovan defence, and the resulting counter attack saw them put danger on the Vidi goal. However, Rabiu put too much on his ball and it rolled wide of Kovacsik and beyond the post. Kovacsik was again called upon after 13 minutes. A low ball in from the left was collected by the alert keeper. Eight minutes later and following a corner, Nego hit a volley that bounced in front of the offside Zivzivadze, who despite finding himself with a chance on goal, eventually saw the home side awarded a free kick. Barely a minute later and the Slovakian champions led: Strelec hit a high ball in that De Marco flicked on and into the back of the net (1-0).

The home side celebrated another goal after 26 minutes. Medved curled a 25 meters free kick into the bottom left corner (2-0). Vidi managed to get back one after half an hour: Petryak was fouled and Houri hit a long ball into the middle following a free kick, which the arriving Stopira met with his head to make it 2-1.

Zivzivadze just failed to connect with a sharp ball in from Nego after 35 minutes. Moments later and Kovacsik saved an effort from Strelec. The home side went in at the break leading 2-1.

Gabor Marton chose the following eleven for the second half: Kovacsik - Fiola, Vago, Rus, Hangya - Nikolov, Houri - Funsho, Hodzic, Petryak - Nikolic.

Nikolic found himself with a chance on goal shortly after the second half kicked off. His left footed shot went wide of the goal. We could have scored a goal moments later when a pass from Nikolic found Funcho, who struck the post. Rus flicked an effort from 10 meters, which Sulla saved on 54 minutes. Minutes later and Petryak found himself on the floor inside the box, but the match official waved play on.

With 63 minutes on the clock, a pass from Petryak to Funsho saw him show good skill before shooting from 15 meters at Sulla, who could only get a hand to it, but it still had power to settle in the back of the net to make it 2-2 on the night.

A minute later and Petryak cut in from the left and shot with his right, which the home keeper saved. Petryak and Sulla were both again in the thick of the action after 70 minutes. However, it did not result in a further goal. Fiola passed a high ball back to his own keeper after 74 minutes, which Kovacsik could not control as he would have wanted and the ball bounced back of the Slovan forward, but fortunately wide of the post. 

A nice free kick from Slovan's Hungarian player Holman after 83 minutes landed in the hands of Kovacsik. The final chance of the game fell to Szallo and his header after 87 minutes. The referee blew for full time with the two sides sharing four goals. 

We are next in action on the 1st August when we face NS Mura in Szombathely.