There were no goals but plenty of action at the MOL Arena Sosto.
MOL Fehervar FC kicked off the spring season with a home game against Budapest Honved. Our side went into the game in second place following the winter break.
Joan Carrillo had to do without Krisztian Geresi, Szabolcs Huszti, Adrian Rus while Boban Nikolov also had to sit out the game due to injury. The starting line-up was: Kovácsik - Fiola, Musliu, Vinícius, Stopira - Pátkai, Elek - Nego, Kovács I., Petryak - Futács.
Honved had winter signing Patrik Hidi in their team as they kicked off with the following eleven: Tujvel - Ikenne-King, Kamber, Lovric, Batik, Aliji - Banó-Szabó, Hidi, Kesztyűs - Moutari, Lanzafame. Vidi Managing Director Attila Balogh handed over a gift to 75 year old Janos Nemeth, who served the club for a long period including as a former Technical Manager.
The first real chance arrived on 10 minutes when Kesztyus tried his luck from 16 meters. Kovacsik managed to punch it clear. There were two shots on goal in the minutes that followed. First Futacs found Nego with the ball, who shot powerfully from 23 meters, but Tujvel collected the ball. At the other end, Moutari fought his way into the box and from a tight angle hit the far post, but the ball fortunately came back out.
Moutari drove the ball forward after 19 minutes and he shot from 21 meters, which Kovacsik managed to parry away from the bottom left corner. Kesztyus shot over from the resulting corner. Fiola sent an effort from 23 meters 4 minutes later, which produced an acrobatic save from visiting keeper Tujvel. The action continued with Petryak shooting eventually finding Nego, who from 6 meters could not direct the ball on goal as it went just over the bar. Hidi had a long range shot on 27 meters land in the hands of Kovacsik.
A 37th minute cross from Kovacs arrived to Petryak, who lifted the ball high but was unable to direct it at goal. The pressure continued around the visiting goal with a defender clearing the ball ahead of Nego who was lining up to head it. Musliu flicked a dangerous ball from a corner. Good link up play ended with Futacs turning on goal and shooting from 16, but again it did not find the back of the net.
Loic Nego suffered an injury after 42 minutes and although he was able to return to play moments later, it was obvious that he would need to be replaced at half time, with new signing Lyes Houri coming on.
Petryak did well to control a ball on 53 minutes and ran towards the Kispest defence, before finding the unmarked Kovacs, who with the outside of his foot tried to beat Tujvel but the former Vidi keeper emerged on top. Futacs shot from 14 meters after 55 minutes as the pressure continued. There was bad luck for Vidi with Ivan Petryak falling to the floor. He had to be stretchered off and was replaced by Milanov.
With 66 minutes played, Elek passed to Milanov who went down the left before crossing it into the middle for Futacs to head home. Unfortunately the assistant raised his flag and it was ruled offside. Vinicius got hold of the ball after 69 minutes and beat the Honved player before playing a one-two with Milanov. The central defender continued moving forward but the Bulgarian winger's cross did not find him and the chance went begging. Hodzic was the last substitution for the home side. He replaced Futacs with 15 minutes remaining.
Houri sent an effort towards goal after 76 minutes but it sailed wide of the target. Bano-Szabo saw the ball at his feet following a cross for the visiting team with 9 minutes left. The midfielder shot cleanly from 13 meters but it went just wide of the post. Lanzafame still had time to twist and shoot suddenly at goal in the 90th minute. However, he could not beat Kovacsik who palmed it away. The 5 minutes of injury time saw Aliji kick out at Fiola and the Honved player saw red and the visitors were reduced to 10 men.
The first league game of 2020 ended in a 0-0 draw.
Author: David Rechnitzer