Loki played away against their direct rival Zalaegerszeg in the last championship game of this year. Our team was missing Erik Kusnyir, who was on rehabilitation after his surgery, Bence Batik, Neven Djurasek, Thor Úlfarsson and Yacouba Silue, as well as Gergő Kocsis, who was struggling with an injury and Brandon Domingues, who was suspended for one match due to a red card in the game against Újpest. Among the starting XI was Dominik Kocsis.

DVSC started the match offensively and well, our team had several corners and after one of them, Dusan Lagator shot just wide off the goal. Loki’s superiority was obvious and in the 10^th minute, Márk Szécsi unleashed a powerful shot from 16 meters, but it went over the goal. Gundel-Takács saved Tamás Szűcs’ attempt as well as Balázs Dzsudzsák’s shot in the 17^th minute.

Even though our team played well, ZTE took the lead in the 22^nd minute: Mim curled the ball into the far corner from the right side at a sharp angle, approximately 16 meters out (1-0). The game continued at a quick pace, with both teams creating chances. In the 29^th minute, János Ferenczi’s shot was brilliantly tipped away for a corner by the goalkeeper of ZTE. No more goals were scored until the break and Loki went on halftime with a disadvantage.

At the beginning of the second half, Loki was dominating and had some attempts, but could not create bigger chances. In the 57^th minute, Jorgo Pellumbi had to be substituted due to an injury and Arandjel Stojkovic came on. In the 63^rd minute, Gundel-Takács made a brilliant save to deny Balázs Dzsudzsák’s free-kick. However, we managed to equalize after a corner as Meldin Dreskovic headed the ball into the right side of the goal from 8 meters (1-1).

During the last 30 minutes, the fight became sharper and both teams had chances. In the 79^th minute, the referee sent off Dusan Lagator with a second yellow card. Victor Braga and Zhirayr Shaghoyan came off the bench for the final minutes. In the 81^st minute, Várkonyi headed home from 5 meters, following a free-kick (2-1).

Playing with one man down in the endgame, our team could not secure a point. The next championship game will be in February.

According to the coach

Gábor Márton: Congratulations to my team, we played well and could have killed the game earlier. I can say only positive things about the guys.

Nestor El Maestro: We did not deserve to lose this match, and thus, we appeared to be in a very difficult situation. I hope that we will improve and fight to avoid relegation.

OTP Bank Liga, round 17.

ZTE-DVSC 2-1 (1-0).

Zalaegerszeg, 1623 spectators. Referee: Antal P.

ZTE: Gundel-Takács – Várkonyi, Nyíri, Evangelou, Medgyes – Ipalibo (Sajbán, 80.), Kiss B. (Bakti, 80.), Sankovic – Dénes (Németh, 89.), Croizet, Mim (Vogyicska, 92.). Head coach:Gábor Márton.

DVSC: Megyeri – Szécsi, Dreskovic, Pellumbi (Stojkovic, 57.), Ferenczi – Kocsis D. (Shaghoyan, 80.), Lagator, Szűcs T. (Victor Braga, 80.) Szuhodovszki (Shedrach, 88.) – Dzsudzsák, Bárány. Head coach: Nestor El Maestro.

Goal: Mim (22.), Várkonyi (81.) as well as Dreskovic (63.).

Yellow card: Mim (24.), Bakti (83.) as well as Lagator (27., 79.), Dzsudzsák (63.), Szécsi (85.), Shedrach (93.), Megyeri (94.).

Dismissal: Lagator (79.).