Two unbeaten teams, Elche and Spartak Moscow, met in the Honvéd Cup final. The Spanish side reached the final ahead of our team and Paris Saint-Germain, beating Tamás Szamosi's side by one goal and the French by three. The Russians booked their place in the final with four points, earned by defeating Maribor and winning the post-match penalty shootout after drawing with Atalanta.
The first half was played at an astonishing pace, with both teams clearly highly motivated, although that intensity did not translate into many chances. There was one exception: Norena shot and Khautov produced a fine save, then did the same from José García's rebound. Even then the Russian goal did not escape danger, but Canizares fired high over the bar. In the 31st minute Montano tried his luck, but his free-kick flew over the crossbar.
After the break the pattern changed considerably and as time passed it increasingly looked as though Elche were controlling the game. In the 59th minute Canizares intercepted the ball but, through on goal, lifted it over the bar. Two minutes later the Spanish side created another excellent opening: after a cross from the left, Canizares stepped over the ball and Antón, with the goal at his mercy, placed his effort wide. Elche head coach Adrián Martínez made an excellent intervention by bringing on Alejandro García, which proved the winning move: six minutes before the end of normal time the Spanish forward gave his team the lead (1–0). In the final minute Canizares could have doubled the advantage, but Georgij Khautov – who was also named the tournament's best goalkeeper – produced a huge save in a one-on-one. The game was finally settled in stoppage time: the Spanish broke dangerously and although Khautov again made a superb save, Pablo Canizares tucked away the rebound to decide the contest (2–0).
HONVÉD CUP, 2025/26, Final
Elche CF (Spain)–Spartak Moscow (Russia) 2–0 (0–0)
Bozsik Arena, 250 spectators.
Elche: Fernández – Gonzalez, Masiá, Cano, Soler – J. Rodríguez, Montano (Antón, 47.), Picó Tenza (A. García, 66.) – Canizares, J. García (Recuerda, 47.), Norena (Castanos, 80.). Head coach: Adrián Martínez
Spartak: Khautov – Trofimov, Bojko, Titarenko, Serkin – Jegorov, Katajev (Parfenov, 76.), Smirnov – Abubakirov (Zavjalov, – at half-time), Avdejev, Dzhingazijev (Prokhorenko, – at half-time). Head coach: Aleksandr Ivantsov
Goals: A. García (74.), Canizares (80+1).
Player of the tournament: Samuel Martínez Norena (Elche CF)
Top scorers: Pablo Canizares Ruíz (Elche CF); Manilo Carone (Atalanta BC) 3 goals each
Best goalkeeper: Georgij Khautov (FC Spartak Moscow)
