As is known, our team most recently recorded a six-goal rout of Monor SE in a friendly: Somogyi Tamás scored his first senior goal for us, while new signing Adi Alič struck twice. On Saturday our players reached the final stage of their preparations, taking on Croatian top-flight side NK Osijek, who finished ninth last season, at the Opus Arena from 19:00. Defender Baki Ákos, who suffered an injury against Tiszakécske last season, returned to the starting eleven. Maurizio Jacobacci, however, was without several key players, with Gyurcsó Ádám, Pinte Patrik, Medgyes Zoltán, Zuigeber Ákos and Kántor Kevin all sidelined.
The hosts took the lead as early as the second minute: after an attack down the left, Nail Omerović fired into the bottom-right corner (1–0). A few minutes later, after a turnover, Adi Alič – who marked his debut against Monor with a brace – aimed for the right corner, but the Osijek goalkeeper saved. We came close to equalising again in the 15th minute when Kállai, arriving at the far post from Somogyi Tamás's excellent corner, missed turning the ball into the net by millimetres, with the ball striking the post instead. Our opponents doubled their advantage in the 29th minute: Ivan Dolček collected a cross-field pass, cut inside and blasted ruthlessly into the net (2–0).
The pace dropped somewhat after the break. In the 56th minute Luka Vrbančić tried his luck from 16 metres, but our 42-year-old goalkeeper Tomás Tujvel stretched well to make the save. We pulled one back in the 63rd minute: following a misplaced pass, Alič laid the ball off to Szamosi, who rolled it into the net (2–1).
As the final ten minutes approached, Varga Bence crossed for Kovács Erik, who tried to steer the ball goalwards, but it went wide of the post. A minute later we threatened again from a Varga delivery: Kovács tried to glance it on, but the ball flew over the bar. In the final minute Osijek won possession in midfield and Balelo went through one-on-one, but the recovering Szabó Alex managed to make the clearance.
Our next match is away to Kisvárda on July 25 at 19:30 in the opening round of the OTP Bank Liga.
NK OSIJEK–KISPEST–HONVÉD FC 2–1 (2–0)
Opus Arena, Osijek. Referee: Domagoj Kurtovič (Ivan Janič, Dino Knez).
NK Osijek: Malenica – Kolarik, Jurišić, Jelenič, Mustafic– Vrbančić – Dolček, Mikolčić, Petrusenko, Omerovič,– Leon. Substitutes: Curcija, Vrbanac, Ljubojević , Posavec, Bukvić, Barić, Kalem, Ljatifi, Balelo, Jovicic, Bakti Head coach: Federico Bessone
KISPEST–HONVÉD FC: Tujvel – Kállai (Schön 86.), Baki (Szabó A. – at half-time), Boldor (Csonka 58.), Hangya (García 61.) – Somogyi Á. (Pekár 74.), Csontos – Ujváry (Pauljevic – at half-time), Szamosi, Somogyi T. (Varga B. 74.) – Alič (Kovács E. 74.). Head coach: Maurizio Jacobacci
Goals: Omerović (2.), Dolček (29.); Szamosi (63.) for Honvéd
