Fradi ends our run – runners-up in the cup

Our women's team reached the Simple Women's Cup final again after ten years, but the toughest possible task awaited them in the competition: on Wednesday at 19:00 they faced defending league champions Ferencváros. Our side had also battled the green-and-whites for the cup in 2016. Our head coach Balázs Dörnyei led Ferencváros's women's team for eight years, winning five league titles and six consecutive Hungarian Cups during that period. Victory at the Új Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium would have allowed him to lift the trophy for the eleventh time. 

We kicked off the match and, although play took place in the opposition half during the opening minutes, we were unable to create a chance. Approaching the seventh minute, Ferencváros won their third consecutive corner. Diána Csányi took it, but our 17-year-old goalkeeper Nikolett Krizsan managed to punch the ball clear. There was a brief scramble in the goalmouth, but our players cleared the rebound. Flórián Albert's team took the lead in the 11th minute through Viktória Nagy, who, after a feint inside the penalty area, fired into the far corner (0–1). 

After the opening goal, play was concentrated in our half, and not long afterwards Krizsan produced a superb save: following Viktória Nagy's cross, Vanessza Nagy tried to glance the ball on, but our goalkeeper managed to keep out the effort. A few minutes later Csányi doubled the green-and-whites' lead, scoring directly from a corner in the 35th minute (0–2). In the 41st minute we came close to our first goal: taking advantage of Kostic giving the ball away, Gyöngyvér Szalay found herself through on goal and aimed for the far corner, but her shot rolled wide of the post. 

At half-time our head coach made three changes: Petra Gégény replaced Franciska Simon, Eszter Czinege came on for Eri Narita, and Petra Nyul replaced Gyöngyvér Szalay. After the restart we created the first opportunities, before Anna Túroczy's cross found Nagy, but our defenders closed the spaces well. Our opponents scored their third goal in the 54th minute and the match appeared decided: after Evelin Fenyvesi's lofted ball, Vlada Kubassova struck into the net from 20 metres (0–3). Although our team played more bravely in the second half, we were unable to create clear chances. In the 81st minute Diána Csányi aimed for the left corner after an individual run, but her shot went wide of the post. Although we were not the ones lifting the trophy after the final whistle, the fighting spirit and determination shown by our players can give us strength for the closing stages of the league season.

Our team will next take the field on Sunday at the Bozsik Arena, hosting PMFC in Round 20 of the Simple Women's League.

SIMPLE WOMEN'S CUP, FINAL 

BUDAPEST HONVÉD FC–FTC-TELEKOM 0–3 (0–2)

Új Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium (1113 spectators, REFEREE: Dr. Kulcsár Judit, Hegedűs-Baráth Noémi, Molnár Réka)

HONVÉD: Krizsan – Palama (Vas 72.), Williams, Horváthová, Simon (Gégény – at half-time) – Róth (Sain 82.) – Szalay (Nyul – at half-time)  Bokor, Narita (Czinege – at half-time) , Csáki – Vachter HEAD COACH: Dörnyei Balázs

FTC: Kostic – Túróczy (Frajtovic 76.), Gődér, Zágonyi – Ott (Czellér 83.) Könczeyné Fenyvesi, Csányi (Diaz 83.) Edwards (Hanász 63.), Nagy Vi., – Kubassova, Nagy V. HEAD COACH: Albert Flórián Ferenc

Goals: Nagy V. (13.), Csányi (34.), Kubassova (58.)