Report: Defeat against Újpest

On Monday evening the Vidi - Újpest match was played from the 4th round of the OTP Bank Liga NB I. Head coach Michael Boris named the following eleven players in the starting line-up. Kovács D. - Nego, Serafimov, Stopira, Heister - Rúben Pinto, Fiola - Dárdai, Houri, Bumba - Kodro. Before the match, we remembered our season ticket holder Imre Szmilek, who fell ill on his way to the match against ZTE on Friday. Paramedics working at the stadium rushed to the scene immediately, but were unable to save his life. Imre Szmilek would have been 71 on the 29th November. The ceremonial kick-off was taken by Máté Szűcs, who was given the chance by his mother as a present for his 18th birthday.

First half: huge Vidi chances, but no goal in the first 45 minutes

We started the game well, after 45 seconds the score could have been 1-0, Kodro's 16 meter shot was saved by Nicolic, the rebound was headed at goal by Pinto from close range, but it was also saved by the former Serbian national team goalkeeper of Újpest FC. A minute later, Goure was left on the ground after a collision with Stopira inside the 16-yard box, and of course the incident was reviewed in the VAR room, but no foul was committed. After another minute, Nicolic saved from Kodro, but the ball fell to Nego, but our international's shot was saved by the purple and white goalkeeper. In the 10th minute, former Vidi player Kevin Csoboth shot from 16 yards, but Kovács saved confidently. In the 11th minute, the VAR was at work again, Csongvai got a hand on the ball inside the box, but VAR did not find the move of the Újpest player foul. 

In the 25th minute, Goure headed wide of the goal from a corner kick, then Csoboth was in a great position, but there was too much trickery and we managed to clear the danger. At the end of the first half, Csoboth tricked Serafimov and shot on goal under pressure from Nego, Stopira blocked for the corner. In the last minute of added time, Kodro kept the ball nicely inside the 16 but his centre was cut out by Diaby. The ball was not cleared, however, as Nego chipped the ball to Nicolic from 13 yards and Dárdai powered over the bar to end the first half.

Second half: big fight, injury and an unlucky goal

The second 45 minutes also started with a ceremonial kick-off by Dezső Velancsics, who was given the opportunity by his friends as a present for his 65th birthday. Neither coach made a substitution at the break and the first chance of the game came from the visitors, Csongvai's cross was headed just over by Csoboth from 12 metres. There was much less danger in the half, but the spectators were not bored and there was a great battle on the pitch. In the 72nd minute, Nego's shot was saved by Nicolic, and after a corner, Serafimov's header was saved by the visitors' keeper. In the 80th minute, Újpest FC took the lead after an unbelievable sequence of bad luck: Pinto was injured in an innocent situation, but after he had passed the ball to Tallo at the halfway line, Pauljevic curled the ball into the net from 18 meters (0-1). A minute later, Katona's 17-metre shot was saved by Kovács. In the eight-minute extra time, the purple and whites maintained their lead and we suffered our first home defeat in the league.

In the next round we visit the home of newcomer Vasas.