In Matchday 3 of the OTP Bank Liga, we visited Paksi FC, who have finished on the podium in each of the past three seasons. The Tolna side recently played in the Conference League, where they narrowly missed out on progressing against Panathinaikos. They also beat Ferencváros 4–2 in the opening league round, although Zalaegerszeg inflicted a 5–2 defeat on them. György Bognár's side last lost at home in NB I on 22 February, against eventual champions Győr. This season only MTK Budapest, who have played one more match, have scored more goals. At the same time, Paks have also conceded the most (eight). We drew both our first two games, too, and came agonisingly close to collecting all three points against MTK.
Our head coach Maurizio Jacobacci made just two changes from our previous league game against MTK Budapest. Alex Szabó was handed his first start in place of the suspended Ákos Baki, while Kevin Kállai was selected ahead of Branko Pauljević, as he had been against Kisvárda.
Both teams played at a relatively high tempo during the opening fifteen minutes, but despite plenty of transitions they only managed to create half-chances.
In the 18th minute, a fine passing move saw the ball travel from Alić to Csontos and then to Tamás Somogyi, whose shot drew an excellent save from Kovácsik. In the 22nd minute, the hosts created their best opening so far when Silye met a cross from the left, but headed wide of the right post despite being virtually unmarked. Two minutes later, left wing-back Lapu shot from a tight angle into the side netting without seriously threatening Tujvel's goal. In the 29th minute, Alić won possession near the opposition goal, beat his man with a fine piece of skill and aimed for the top-right corner, but his shot went wide. In first-half added time, Szamosi tried his luck after a neat run past several defenders, aiming for the bottom-left corner, only for Kovácsik to produce another outstanding save. György Bognár made two changes at half-time, bringing on Zsolt Haraszti and Kevin Horváth. The latter almost gave the hosts the lead in the 48th minute, striking the right post from 18 metres. Four minutes later, Haraszti fired narrowly wide of the left post. In the 58th minute fortune deserted us: Zuigeber headed Csontos's pinpoint delivery into the net, but the video referee judged him to have been offside by centimetres. We then failed to reorganise after the free-kick and Paks picked up the loose ball, allowing Milán Pető to shoot from more than twenty metres. His effort deflected off Boldor and flew into Tujvel's net (1–0). In the 67th minute substitute Kántor crossed into the box, and Tamás Somogyi's shot went narrowly wide of the top-left corner. Moments later our other substitute Pinte lofted the ball to Kántor, whose excellent chest control laid it off for Tamás Somogyi, our 16-year-old talent, who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the right corner (1–1). In the 73rd minute we almost completed the comeback when Szamosi headed Csontos's corner just centimetres over the bar. Tujvel then had to make a superb save from Haraszti's free-kick in the 77th minute; moments later he was beaten, but Pap's header spun away off the right post. There was no such reprieve in the 79th minute, when Szalai collected the ball twenty metres out, dribbled past defenders and placed his shot into the bottom-left corner (2–1).
Pinte tried his luck from a tight angle in the 82nd minute and came close to equalising. Then, in the 90th minute, we were awarded a penalty after Csontos delivered a free-kick and János Szabó headed the ball onto his own hand. The referee pointed to the spot, and Csontos – as against MTK – calmly converted the penalty (2–2).
We host Vasas FC at the Bozsik Arena on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Matchday 4 of the OTP Bank Liga.
Paksi FC–KISPEST–HONVÉD FC 2–2 (0–0)
Fehérvári Road Stadium, attendance: 1,800. Referee: Mihály Káprály (Péter Kóbor, István Szécsényi).
Paks:Kovácsik – Silye (Győrfi 60'), Vas G., Szabó J., Zeke, Lapu – Gyurkits (Horváth K. – half-time), Papp, Pető M. (Böde 75') – Galambos (Haraszti Zs. – half-time), Szalai J. (Windecker 81').Head coach: György Bognár
HONVÉD:Tujvel – Kállai, Szabó A., Boldor, Hangya – Somogyi Á. (Pekár 85'), Csontos – Zuigeber (Pinte 66'), Szamosi (Medgyes 85'), Somogyi T. (Gyurcsó 85') – Alić (Kántor 66').Head coach:Maurizio Jacobacci
G:Pető (59'), Szalai (79'); Somogyi T. (68'), Csontos (90', pen.).
Maurizio Jacobacci:
We played against a team that can cause problems if you allow them to play. We came here to win the match. I think we deserved to lead in the first half. We put in an enormous physical effort before the break, and that was part of the reason Paks created plenty of chances and hit the woodwork twice in the second half. Then we scored a goal that was disallowed for offside, perhaps somewhat controversially. Two minutes later we conceded, which was hard for the team to take. That was when the team's character showed most clearly, as Tamás Somogyi scored a superb equaliser. We didn't stop there – we'd come for all three points – but Paks took the lead again. We made three substitutions and they revitalised the team. We deserved at least our two goals and the draw; we gave a very good account of ourselves.
György Bognár:
We didn't play well enough to make a win the obvious outcome of this match. Our play lacked fluency in the first half, so we brought on creative players. Our performance improved as a result. We led twice, but that's football: I wouldn't even call the incident that led to the penalty a scoring opportunity. There are strange rules these days, and it's hard to follow what referees will give for different situations.
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