A classic historic clash was ahead of DVSC on Friday evening in the capital, playing against Újpest in the 22th round of Fizz Liga. Bence Batik, Dominik Kocsis and Sergio Navarro were suspended and Álex Pallares substituted our head coach this time as well. Julien Dacosta and Víctor Camarasa were out of the squad, while Álex Bermejo got an opportunity to start.

At the beginning of the match, Loki ceded some space to the home team, who made a few attempts, but could not create any serious chances. A few minutes later, DVSC took the initiative, but for around 15 minutes, there was no danger in front of the goals. In the 14th minute, Soma Szuhodovszki made a shot from distance, but Banai saved it. Immediately afterwards, Újpest scored. In the 15th minute, following an oddly curling cross from the left, Matko nodded home from close range at the far post (1–0).

Thus, Újpest was leading, but in the 24th minute, Loki was awarded a penalty after an obvious handball (by Stronati) within the box. Dzsudzsák took on the penalty, but the ball went wide off the goal. It was a missed chance as well as Donát Bárány’s attempt in the 27th minute. Our team pushed forward in order to equalize, but could not score. The scored remained unchanged until the break.

At the beginning of the 2nd half, Loki dominated, while Újpest focused on defense and quick attacks. Then, in the 55th minute, there was another turning point when Tamás Szűcs received his second yellow card and he was sent-off the pitch.

From that point on, the task looked very difficult; it is never easy to earn points when trailing both in goals and in numbers. DVSC still tried, of course: in the 62nd minute, Álex Bermejo missed Soma Szuhodovszki’s pass by centimeters in front of the goal, but in the 64th minute Újpest struck again. After a cross from the right, Matko was once again left unmarked at the far post and finished from close range (2–0). Yet in the 67th minute, Loki pulled one back! Amos Youga unleashed a shot from around 30 metres, the ball deflected and ended up in the net (2–1).

There was plenty of excitement left for the final minutes as Loki pushed for an equaliser even with ten men. Fran Manzanara, György Komáromi, Dorde Gordic and Márk Szécsi came off the bench. In the 80th minute, Botond Vajda shot just wide off the goal, then Benedek Erdélyi made a crucial save in a one-on-one situation. In the closing moments, our team gave everything, while Újpest also created chances, hit the post and even had a goal ruled out for offside. In the end, no more goals were scored, and this time we left without any points.

The next match will be away against Zalaegerszeg next Sunday.

According to the coach

Zoltán Szélesi: We are working. Each player showed an exemplary attitude and I’m happy with our first victory of the year.

Alex Pallarés: We are proud of the team as we had chances even with 10 men. Sometimes we miss a penalty, but the mentality that we’ve showed can move us forward in this season.

Fizz Liga, round 22.

Újpest-DVSC 2-1 (1-0).

Szusza-stadium, 4279 spectators. Referee: Bogár G.

Újpest: Banai – Bodnár G. (Bese, 78.), Nunes, Stronati, Fiola – Fenyő, Vlijter (Beridze, 57.) – Matko (Brodic, 68.), Ljujic (Lacoux, 78.), Tucic – Gradisar (Krajcsovics, 68.). Head coach: Szélesi Zoltán.

DVSC: Erdélyi – Kusnyir (Szécsi, 80.), Mejías, Lang, Vajda (Cibla, 88.) – Szűcs T., Youga (Manzanara, 70.) – Szuhodovszki (Komáromi, 70.), Dzsudzsák, Bermejo (Gordic, 70.) – Bárány. Head coach: Sergio Navarro.

Goal: Matko (15, 64..) as well as Youga (67.).

Yellow card: Vlijter (37.), Matko (44.) as well as Szűcs T. (40., 55.), Komáromi (75.).

Sent-off: Szűcs T. (55.).