The home match against Kecskemét on Sunday afternoon was an important stop in the fight for the international cup participation for Loki. Our team could not count on Erik Kusnyir, Jorgo Pellumbi, Thor Úlfarsson and Brandon Domingues this time, but among the starting XI were Soma Szuhodovszki and Ádám Bódi, who was greeted on the occasion of his 300^th appearance in the first division.

The match started with an equal play in the midfield, then in the 8^th minute, the goalkeeper of Kecskemét saved Balázs Dzsudzsák’s header from 10 meters that he performed after a well-built attack. DVSC took control of the match and in the 19^th minute, Meldin Dreskovic headed the ball over the goal. In the 27^th minute, Krisztofer Horváth missed a chance on the other side. Even though there were not many chances, the match was exciting.

In the final minutes of the first half, Hamzat Ojediran unleashed a powerful shot that went over the goal, while in the 34^th minute, Ádám Bódi shot wide off the goal. In the 37^th minute, at the end of a beautiful combination by Bódi, Szuhodovszki and Ferenczi, Ádám Bódi was fouled within the box, but the referee overturned the awarded penalty after a long VAR check. During the extra time, Kersák denied Balázs Dzsudzsák’s shot. Thus, no goals were scored until the break.

At the beginning of the second half, there were many stoppages for medical care. Then, in the 56^th minute, Balázs Megyeri made a brilliant save to deny the 16-meter shot of Zsótér. Krisztofer Horváth also had a dangerous attempt but Megyeri saved it. Thirty minutes before the end, Dominik Kocsis, Stefan Loncar and Christian Manrique came on as substitutes. Balázs Megyeri saved the clear-cut chance of Lukács as well. Loki tried to increase the pressure and it paid off when Meldin Dreskovic was kicked in the head inside the penalty area after a cross. The referee didn’t blow his whistle, but the VAR checked it and awarded a penalty. Balázs Dzsudzsák confidently converted the penalty in the 69^th minute (1-0).

Márk Szécsi came off the bench for the endgame (then, at the very end, Oleksandr Romanchuk came on too). DVSC saved their advantage and earned really three important points. We will continue next week in Diósgyőr.

According to the coach

Srdjan Blagojevic: It was a very important, but tough match and victory. There was pressure on us after our last defeat, so it was tough today, but we did it and earned three points. I would comment this match the same way I did last week. It was a typical Hungarian league match, but this time the difference is that we have won the game. There was no relation between the two halves: in the first half, we were in superiority and played well, only the final passes were missing. I was a bit afraid that it would change after the break, and that’s how it was. We were nervous and rushing a bit. Fortunately, Balázs Megyeri made some brilliant saves, he was the man of the match. We managed to take the lead with great difficulty and we had to hold onto it. I’m aware of the fact that there were mistakes, but the most important thing was securing the three points.

István Szabó: We honestly prepared for the match, but had some smaller problems in the first half. After the break, our way of play prevailed. I’m sorry for the missed opportunities.  

OTP Bank League, round 28.

DVSC-Kecskemét 1-0 (0-0).

Nagyerdei Stadium, 5244 spectators. Referee: Karakó F.

DVSC: Megyeri – Baranyai, Dreskovic, Lagator, Ferenczi – Ojediran (Manrique, 62.), Szuhodovszki (Loncar, 62.) – Vajda (Szécsi, 76.), Dzsudzsák (Romanchuk, 84.), Bódi (Kocsis, 62.) – Bárány. Head coach: Srdjan Blagojevic.

Kecskemét: Kersák – Szűcs K., Belényesi, Katona L. – Meskhi (Derekas, 70.) – Nagy O. (Szabó A., 46.), Zsótér (Nikitscher, 70.), Horváth K., Zeke (Leoni, 82.) – Pálinkás (Banó-Szabó, 59.), Lukács. Head coach: Szabó István.

Goal: Dzsudzsák (69., from penalty).

Yellow card: Ojediran (53.), Szécsi (82.), Kocsis (89.) as well as Horváth K. (13.), Pálinkás (45+2.), Katona L. (62.), Belényesi (68.), Derekas (79.).