At 11:00 on Friday, in Round 17 of the league, Viktor Petrók’s side hosted fourth-placed PAFC at Bozsik Arena. Our team went into the match in good form, unbeaten in ten league games beforehand. Interestingly, our only defeat of this season had come against the Felcsút side, when Dávid Arany’s team beat us by two goals in the autumn.
In the sixth minute Benedek Varga-Sós crossed into the middle, but the visiting defenders cleared. A minute later at the other end Milán Moldován tried his luck, sending the ball wide of the post. In the 12th minute PAFC captain Barna Somfalvi shot, but Máté Schwarcz made a last-ditch intervention. Soon afterwards Moldován took a corner and Somfalvi tried again, but his effort flew over the bar. The first half ended with a Varga-Sós corner and, although we had two chances late in the period, we could not turn them into goals, so the teams went into the break at 0–0.
After the restart Ábel Kovács played the ball to Balázs Bokor, but the visitors were able to clear. PAFC took the lead in the 60th minute: Dávid Czinki punched the ball away, and Ádám Ratkai headed the rebound into the net (0–1). Late on Viktor Petrók made a double change, with Szabolcs Csákány replacing Loránd Domján and Soma Kralicsek coming on for Ábel Kovács. We threatened twice in quick succession in the closing stages, but the visiting goalkeeper produced excellent saves, stretching to tip Zalán Varga’s shot heading for the top-right corner away. Then came the drama in the 93rd minute: Zalán Varga first won a penalty and then confidently fired the spot kick into the net to make the final score 1–1.
Our U17 team are therefore unbeaten in 11 matches and sit second in the league on 34 points, just one behind MTK. The leaders, however, have yet to play their match in this round.
HONVÉD: Czinki, Ferencz, Schwarcz, Varga-Sós, Szanka (Balaskó 76.), För (Varga 62.), Érsek, Molnár, Domján (Csákány 84.), Kovács (Kralicsek 84.), Bokor (Szőke 76.) HEAD COACH: Petrók Viktor
PAFC: Süli, Nica, Boda, Erdei (Ölbei 84.), Ratkai (Németh 67.), Somfalvi (Németh-Hám), Sajgó, Serbin, Moldován (Jancsó 77.), Verbőczi, Beder HEAD COACH: Arany Dávid
Goals: Ratkai (60.), Varga (93.)
Viktor Petrók, head coach: “I am happy that we managed to equalise at the end; based on the pattern of the game I think we deserved it. Obviously it is very important feedback for the boys that their efforts are also reflected in the result. Both teams wanted to play football, but I think we again tried to show the style that characterises our game today. Of course there is still room for improvement and we have to correct the mistakes we made.”
Zalán Varga: “I am happy that my goal helped us fight for the point, but the team was needed for it as well. The result we achieve against MTK could decide the league title, but a lot will also depend on our defending, finishing and timing of our runs.”
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