Following the 3–2 defeat to Slavia Prague, Greek side Panathinaikos were the opponents for our U17 team at the Puskás Suzuki Cup. Before this round the Greeks had drawn 1–1 with Juventus and beaten Slavia 2–0.
The first chance fell to us, but Ábel Kovács's cross only found the side netting. Almost out of nowhere Panathinaikos took the lead in the 14th minute: Ntampizas was sent through and, one-on-one with Balogh, placed the ball into the bottom-right corner (1–0). After the goal the Greek net came under increasing pressure. The biggest chance fell to Schwarz, but our defender side-footed a loose ball wide from seven metres. The equaliser arrived at the end of the half. After a fine passing triangle, Koumoukelis pulled Varga down inside the penalty area, the referee awarded a penalty and sent off the Panathinaikos defender. Somogyi Tamás fired the penalty into the right corner to level the match (1–1).
We started the second half with another goal straight away. From an acute angle on the right, Csörgő Ádám curled a beautiful free kick toward the far corner (1–2). The free kick took a touch off Ntampizas's head, so the Kispest goal was ultimately recorded as his own goal. We continued to control the match, with efforts from Somogyi and Bokor narrowly missing the right side of the goal, while Varga also had a dangerous curling attempt, but we could not extend our lead. The Greeks created one big chance late on, but the shot travelled across the face of our goal and the result did not change before the final whistle.
Viktor Petrók's team now have three points in the group and tomorrow will conclude the group stage against Juventus in a rematch of last year's final. Although we lost 3–2 to current group leaders Slavia Prague on the opening day, we can still finish top of the group. Under the PSK regulations, positions within the group are decided in the following order: points, goal difference, head-to-head result, goals scored, draw.
U17 PUSKÁS SUZUKI CUP 2026 – ROUND 2
PANATHINAIKOS–BUDAPEST HONVÉD 1–2 (1–1)
Referee: Tamás Berényi
PANATHINAIKOS: Tzatzikas – Kalmpurtzis, Koumoukelis, Semos (Gechos 31.), Biniaris (Manganiello 45.), Petousis, Fotis, Karagkounis, Kritikos (Tsigkas 31.), Ntampizas, Konis (Vandiras 38.).
BUDAPEST HONVÉD: Balogh B. – Ferencz, Russnák, Schwarz, Csörgő, Szőke, Somogyi (Domján 60+), Kovács Á. (Bokor 31.), Varga Z. (För 60.), Csákány, Balaskó. Head coach: Petrók Viktor
Goals : Ntampizas (15.), and Somogyi (30. – penalty), Ntampizas (33. – own goal)
Featured image source: PFLA
