On Wednesday from 17:00 we host ESMTK, currently second in the NB III South-East group, at the Bozsik Aréna in the MOL Hungarian Cup round of 16. Progression is decided over one match; if the score is level, 2x15 minutes of extra time follow, and if the tie is still undecided, it goes to a penalty shoot-out.
The winner of the tie will face the winner of Paks–Diósgyőr in the quarter-final.
Our team has three home matches in the space of a week and a half: we host ESMTK in the cup on Wednesday, Szentlőrinc on Sunday, and Ajka in Kispest a week later. All three matches kick off at 17:00.
Road to the last 16:
ESMTK had to come through four matches to reach the round of 16. They first won 7–0 in Ráckeve and then 8–0 in Bordány, before also overcoming Szolnok. In the previous round they pulled off an upset by eliminating second-tier Kozármisleny away from home after a penalty shoot-out. Looking at recent years, this was not the only cup scalp claimed by Zoltán Turi’s team: in 2023 they knocked out Videoton, then still in NB I, and a year earlier eliminated second-tier Soroksár as well – an achievement worthy of respect.
Our own run has not lacked euphoria either. In the previous round we came from behind away to DVSC through goals from Pauljevic and Zuigeber, with progression decided in the 117th minute at the home of the Hajdúság side, who sit on the NB I podium. One round earlier, against county first-division side Mór, we also recovered from a deficit and eventually advanced with a 4–1 win thanks to goals from Baki, Sigér, Kántor and Kovács.
Supporter information:
- The match kicks off at 17:00 on Wednesday at the Bozsik Aréna
- You can buy tickets online here
- Tickets purchased for the match against Videoton FC Fehérvár are also valid for the Hungarian Cup tie against ESMTK!
- We will broadcast the match live on our YouTube channel.
What you need to know about ESMTK:
Founded: 1909
Club colours: red and white
Division: NB III South-East group
League position: 2nd
Head coach: Zoltán Turi
Top scorer in the cup: Gergő Ladányi (4 goals)
Previous cup match: Kozármisleny–ESMTK 0–0 (pens: 2–3)
In recent years, it has usually been our second team that faced ESMTK. This autumn Gábor Kovács’s side won 2–0, with Árpád Botos and Barna Kecskés scoring our goals. Interestingly, Honvéd–ESMTK matches were also played in NB I: in 1945, after a 0–0 draw, Kispesti AC won 2–0 in Pesterzsébet; in 1947 the teams drew 3–3, while the match in Kispest ended in a 2–0 home win.
Among the current ESMTK squad, Máté Balogh, Richárd Slezák and Zoltán Gincsai previously developed at our academy; Gincsai also made his first-team debut for us in a friendly last winter.
The red-and-whites have played in the third tier since the 2009–10 season, earning four bronze medals and three silver medals in that period, and finishing fifth last season. They currently sit second, six points behind Monor, and lost their final two league matches of the autumn. Wednesday’s fixture will be Zoltán Turi’s side’s first competitive match of 2026.
Referee:
The match will be officiated by Márton Rúsz, for whom this will be his fourth Honvéd match. He has taken charge of us once this season, when we suffered a 1–0 defeat in Kecskemét.
MOL HUNGARIAN CUP, ROUND 5 (ROUND OF 16)
February 11 (Wednesday), 17:00
BUDAPEST HONVÉD FC–ESMTK
Bozsik Aréna
Stream: Budapest Honvéd FC/YouTube
