Third-placed DVSC continued the league with another important away match on Sunday, playing as the guests of Puskás Akadémia in Pancho Arena. Among the starting XI was Botond Vajda as well as Dorde Gordic, who has scored against Kazincbarcika and Nyíregyháza too.

The match began at a good pace and many fans from Debrecen accompanied the team. Both sides attempted occasional high pressing, and the first real chance came in the 6th minute, when Balázs Dzsudzsák fired a long-range shot, which Szappanos managed to save. Loki tried to play tactically mature and disciplined football, and in the 14th minute, nearly took the lead, but at the end of a fine counterattack, Donát Bárány lifted the ball just wide of the goal.

DVSC continued to dominate, and in the 22nd minute, after winning the ball, Balázs Dzsudzsák fired a powerful shot just wide of the goal. A minute later, Donát Bárány won possession inside the penalty area and was brought down by Golla. Our national team squad striker confidently converted the clear penalty, scoring his 12th league goal of the season (0–1). In the 30th minute, completely out of the blue, Puskás equalized: after a cross from the left by Samal, Lukács flicked the ball into the net from 7 meters (1–1). In the remaining time before the break, Donát Bárány first threatened with a header, which went over the bar, then Benedek Erdélyi made a fine save to deny the close-range attempt of Lukács. Finally, the home goalkeeper also saved Tamás Szűcs’s header, so the score remained even.

Loki started the 2nd half with an attacking mentality and in the 48th minute, Donát Bárány headed just wide of the goal. It was clear that our team was determined to claim all three points, as Debrecen’s dominance in possession was evident. In the 58th minute, Bence Batik headed over the bar from 13 meters, then came the substitutions: with half an hour remaining, Soma Szuhodovszki and Adrian Guerrero entered the pitch, followed later by Maximilian Hofmann, György Komáromi, and Fran Manzanara.

At the beginning of the endgame, Soma Szuhodovszki shot the ball over the goal from a promising situation, then he took a free-kick from 20 meters, but Szappanos made a brilliant save. DVSC put pressure on their opponent in the final minutes, however, Puskás Akadémia was also dangerous and scored a goal, which was disallowed for offside. During the extra time, György Komáromi curled the ball over the goal and at the end, both teams secured one point.

The next match will be on April 5 against Ferencváros at Nagyerdei Stadium.

According to the coach

Zsolt Hornyák: I’m pleased that those who were given the opportunity today did not disappoint me. Our play was solid, and we were closer to victory than Debrecen.

Sergio Navarro: I’m satisfied with the team’s performance. We had a plan, which we executed. We played well and defended well. We had several chances and at the end, we could secure one point. We have to keep improving and keep going.

Fizz Liga, round 27.

Puskás Akadémia-DVSC 1-1 (1-1).

Pancho Arena, 1586 spectators. Referee: Karakó F.

Puskás Akadémia: Szappanos – Orján, Golla, Markgráf, Nagy Zs. – Duarte, Kern (Magyar Zs., 78.) – Dárdai (Mondovics, 84.), Lukács, Samal (Soisalo, 78.) – Németh A. (Fameyeh, 69.). Head coach: Hornyák Zsolt.

DVSC: Erdélyi – Kusnyir, Lang, Mejías (Hofmann, 80.), Vajda (Guerrero, 64.) – Szűcs T., Batik – Kocsis D. (Manzanara, 89.), Dzsudzsák (Szuhodovszki, 64.), Gordic (Komáromi, 80.) – Bárány. Head coach: Sergio Navarro.

Goal: Lukács (30.) as well as Bárány (24., from penalty).

Yellow card: Németh A. (46.), Lukács (87.) as well as Gordic (43.), Mejías (56.), Lang (93.).