Hungary round-up: MTK gain ground
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Article summary
A Ferencvárosi TC slip-up allowed MTK Hungária FC to close the gap at the top of the table with a 2-1 win.
Article body
With three more games to play, MTK Hungária FC defeated Debreceni VSC 2-1 away to move within five points of Ferencvárosi TC after the leaders surprisingly lost 2-0 at home to Siófok FC.
’We played bravely‘
It was the second time in the NB I play-offs that János Csank's Siófok side have defeated Ferencváros. Second-half goals from Csaba Csordás (51) and Zoltán Fülöp (68) wrapped up the win, leaving Csank to say: "We played bravely." József Garami, the coach of Ferencváros, was less impressed with his side's performance, saying: "We played well in the first 20 minutes but we were unorganised after the interval and especially in the last 15 minutes."
Full advantage
MTK took full advantage of Ferencváros's defeat at Debrecen, where former Hungarian international midfield player Béla Illés - the joint-leading scorer in the division along with Krisztián Kenesei - twice turned provider to set up goals for Csaba Madar and Brazilian striker Welton da Silva. Zoltán Böör pulled a late goal back for the home side.
Újpest win
In the final championship group game of the round, Újpesti TE won 3-1 against Györi ETO FC. Ferenc Horváth scored a goal in either half for the home side before Macedonian defender Aleksandar Bajevski pulled a goal back for Györ. However, the visitors hopes of a comeback were dashed as Zoltán Szélesi scored a third for Újpest.
Dunaferr in peril
In the relegation section, Békéscsabai EFC pushed Dunaferr SE deeper into the mire as early goals from Valentin Miculescu and Zsolt Fehér saw the home side open up a six-point lead over their rivals at the foot of the table. Békéscsaba are now in the relegation play-off position, but are level on points with Kispest Honvéd FC who won 2-1 at Videoton FC Fehérvár thanks to two goals from Romanian striker Marius Sasu.
Kenesei scores
Finally, the game between MFC Sopron and Zalaegerszegi TE ended in a 2-2 draw, with the visitors coming back from two goals down with a little help from Kenesei, who scored his 18th goal of the season. Darko Ljubojevic levelled the scores for the reigning champions in the second half.
