An important match awaited our team, visiting table neighbors MTK Budapest in Round 13 of the OTP Bank Liga. Our side had won two of their last four games and lost just one. With the exception of Ádám Somogyi, all of our players were available, and Maurizio Jacobacci applied the 'never change a winning team' principle, fielding the exact same starting eleven as in last week's victory against Kisvárda. MTK had dismissed head coach Máté Pinezits during the week, with József Kanta taking over the reins, who in turn made sweeping changes to his squad: former player Zalán Kerezsi was left out, as were Hinora, Mikolay, Zeljkovic, and goalkeeper Bence Varga. Meanwhile, Ádám Nyers was included in the blue-and-whites' starting lineup for the first time since Round 7.
In the first half hour, our team played attractive, high-intensity football on several occasions, and in the 9th minute, we scored essentially from our first major chance: our forwards missed Szamosi's cross from the right in the middle, but García collected the ball on the left, and after his ball into the center, Pekár fired, with Marí stylishly flicking it into the net with his heel—scoring his first Kispest goal (0–1). In the 29th minute, Csontos—who dominated the midfield—whistled a free kick just past the left post. MTK had to wait until the 37th minute for their first serious scoring chance, when Benedek Varju missed Patrik Kovács's cross from the left by inches, meaning Hadzikic did not need to intervene. In the 40th minute, our team played a short corner, after which Csontos crossed into the center, and György Komáromi diverted it unstoppably into his own net (0–2). At the break, our head coach made an enforced and pre-planned change as Csontos, who had fallen ill toward the end of the week, was replaced by Reda Eddarraj. In the 53rd minute, Tamás Somogyi's shot flew just wide of the target, with our young midfielder missing by inches. Two minutes later, MTK launched a dangerous attack, but at the end of the move, Nyers failed to connect with the ball in front of goal; moments later, however, what Lady Luck had given earlier, she took back: following Varju's cross, the hosts pulled one back virtually out of nothing through Komáromi (1–2). In the 59th minute, Somogyi had another go at goal, and this time he was right on target, but Fadgyas pulled off a great save. In the 73rd minute, Bognár played a great pass to Kerezsi, who struck the right post as he fell. Ten minutes later, two MTK substitutes combined for the equalizer: from Klausz's pass, Hinora leveled the score (2–2). No further goals were scored in the remaining time, meaning the blue-and-whites remain behind us in the standings, though we failed to build a substantial lead over them. Following the international break, our next match will be on November 22, when we host Paks at the Bozsik Aréna.
OTP BANK LIGA, ROUND 13, 2026-27
MTK Budapest–KISPEST–HONVÉD FC 2–2 (0–2)
Budapest, Új Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion, 3,741 spectators. Referee: Bence Csonka (Balázs Buzás, Gábor Máyer).
HONVÉD: Hadzikic – Szabó A., Baki, Boldor, P. García – Somogyi T., Pekár, Csontos (Eddarraj, half-time), Szamosi (Zuigeber, 77') – Marí (Kántor, 84'), Pinte (Pauljevic, 84'). Head coach: Maurizio Jacobacci
MTK: Fadgyas – Varju, Armalas, Radic, Kovács P. – Kata, Szuhodovszki (Zeljkovic, half-time) – Jurek, Bognár I. (Klausz, 79'), Komáromi (Hinora, 79') – Nyers (Kerezsi, 63'). Interim head coach: József Kanta
Goals: Komáromi (56'), Hinora (83'), and Marí (9'), Komáromi (7' – own goal).
Maurizio Jacobacci:
We played brilliantly in the first half. MTK were looking for opportunities, but we also defended well. We scored two goals in the first half, although we were fortunate with the opponent's own goal. Due to Csontos's illness, the team doctor only cleared him for forty-five minutes. So I had to make a substitution at half-time, and a certain drop in performance was noticeable because of that, but I don't think that was the deciding factor. I believe conceding that first goal from a goalkeeping error heavily influenced the final outcome of the match. It hurt the team psychologically, we conceded space to the opponent and didn't defend compactly. MTK smelled blood, got back into the game, and played well. If you give MTK space, they play good football. Credit to the opponent, because they capitalized on our mistakes. Taking both halves into account, it was an even match, but I am not satisfied because we dominated the first half and were two goals up. You have to win these matches. Overall, I am rather disappointed, but it is already a positive sign that we are unsatisfied with not winning away against an opponent like this.
