DVSC started the year and continued the league with home derby against Diósgyőr. Due to injury and illness, Ádám Lang, Bence Batik, Julien Dacosta and Victor Camarasa were missing as well as Dominik Kocsis, who was suspended. From the first minute, our 20-year-old homegrown goalkeeper Benedek Erdélyi — starting for the first time in NB I — was on the pitch, along with Erik Kusnyir, who returned after a long absence, and Flórián Cibla.

Based on the votes of our supporters, Tamás Szűcs was named the best Loki player of the autumn season. The young midfielder received the award before the match from Mark Stott, chairman of the Board of Directors of DVSC Futball Zrt. and Simon Wilson. board member. Special recognition goes to our outstanding striker Donát Bárány, who proved himself not only on the pitch but in the classroom as well. He received his master’s degree in sports economics on the field from Prof. Dr. habil Veronika Fenyves, dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Debrecen, and vice-dean, Dr. Bácsné Prof. Dr. Éva Bába.

The match started at a good pace and Loki tried to take the initiative, which worked at times, but there were some minor chances in front of both goals. The first major opportunity came in the 15th minute, which resulted in a goal: Colley fired into the far corner from the left inside the penalty area (0-1). Diósgyőr took the lead and by the 19th minute, they have doubled their advantage. Colley broke into the box from the right by the goal line, while Bokros arrived at the far side and easily finished from close-range (0-2).

Thus, the match started badly for Loki and coming back from there looked like a difficult task. The comeback was not realized until the final minutes of the first half, in fact, Colley missed a one-on-one opportunity. However, during the extra time, DVSC pulled one back: at the end of a great action, Flórián Cibla dribbled past his defender and curled the ball into the far corner from the right side from 14 meters (1-2).

At the very beginning of the match, Benedek Erdélyi made a brilliant save to deny Colley’s attempt. After that, Loki equalized! In the 49th minute, Dorde Gordić made an excellent run down the left wing to the goal line and delivered a fine cross, and the arriving Erik Kusnyir, who was back on the pitch after two years, fired the ball into the net at the far post (2–2).

So the team managed to fight its way back, a clear sign of its mental strength. From then on, it was Loki’s will that prevailed: in the 54th minute, Sentic saved a header from Josua Mejías. Two minutes later there was no mercy — Tamás Szűcs struck beautifully from 20 meters into the bottom right corner (3–2). From that point on, it was a joy to watch our team’s football and fans could see some great actions.

In the closing stages, György Komáromi came on, followed shortly by Soma Szuhodovszki, Maximilian Hofmann, Adrian Guerrero and Fran Manzanara. Loki tried to put the important three points beyond doubt, while Diósgyőr squandered several chances to equalize. In the dying moments, after a free kick from Balázs Dzsudzsák, the Diósgyőr goalkeeper made a great save, and Adrian Guerrero also came close to scoring. In the end, no one found the net again, the score remained 3–2, and a very valuable victory was secured for Debrecen.

The next match will be on Saturday in Győr.

According to the coach

Sergio Navarro: It was an incredible match. During the break, I told the players that they have a strong mentality and I was sure that we could win the match. I’m happy that we managed to do so. I’m satisfied with the team’s performance.

Vladimir Radenkovic: In this match, mental strength was the most important. We entered well and in the first 50 minutes, we played well, but after that we showed our worse face. We should have known how to play when our opponent is coming back.

Fizz Liga, round 19.

DVSC-Diósgyőr 3-2 (1-2).

Nagyerdei Stadium, 3902 spectators. Referee: Bogár G.

DVSC: Erdélyi – Kusnyir. Mejías, Kulbachuk (Hofmann, 74.), Vajda (Guerrero, 74.) – Szűcs T., Youga – Cibla (Szuhodovszki, 74.), Dzsudzsák (Manzanara, 86.), Gordic (Komáromi, 66.) – Bárány. Head coach: Sergio Navarro.

Diósgyőr: Sentic – Babos, Szatmári, Bárdos, Bokros – Vallejo (Kastrati, 72.), Bényei (Roguljic, 57.), Holdampf (Sajbán, 80.), Keita, Pető M. (Varga Z., 57.) – Colley (Saponjic, 72.). Head coach: Vladimir Radenkovic.

Goal: Cibla (45+1.), Kusnyir (49.), Szűcs T. (56.) as well as Colley (15.), Bokros (19.).

Yellow card: Kulbachuk (11.), Manzanara (90.) as well as Colley (65.), Bárdos (78.).