Hungarian 2012/13 Season – Roundup

 

The Hungarian league came to an end last Sunday with two vital positions still up for grabs. The last relegation place was still to be decided after a spirited comeback from Siófok left them just two points behind Lombard Pápa, and the last Europa League spot where Budapest Honvéd and MTK Budapest were left to battle for third spot.

It ended as a bit of damp squib in the end. Siófok were unable to beat Újpest at home, despite missing a penalty, and lost 1-0 to condemn them to NBII, while Honvéd got the draw they needed against Haladás to secure the third and final European spot.

Three games earlier Győr had claimed their first NBI title in 30 years under the tutelage of Attila Pintér. ETO went on a 22 undefeated streak throughout the season, and even though were some minor blips towards the end of the season with defeats to Paks and Kecskemét, the championship that eluded them for so long was theirs come May thanks to a 1-0 win over Ferencváros.

Videoton managed to secure second spot after a change of manager in December. They were in fourth position at the turn of the winter break, and without the distraction of the Europa League, Jose Gomes’s side were able to put together some impressive results and actually ended the Spring Season as metaphoric champions. Their European campaign was incredible, though, and they almost managed to qualify through their group after beating Basel and Sporting Lisbon. They ultimately missed out in the end, but they did Hungary proud, and ended Paulo Sousa’s reign on a high.

Honvéd had an incredible second half of the season too, and ended the campaign in third, winning 7 of their last 10 games. The form of former Roma striker Davide Lanzafame certainly helped Kispest’s form, but it really came from nowhere. MTK Budapest will be gutted to miss out after their challenge happened to tail off in the Spring, but after being promoted last season, they won’t be too down heartened.

The underachievers this term were without doubt Debrecen as last season’s unbeaten champions limped to a 6^th place finish losing 12 games in the league. They did however manage to claim European football next season with a Magyar Kupa win over Győr, after an unstoppable performance from the machine that is Adamo Coulibaly. Ferencváros were impressive over the Spring period, and look like they might be contenders next season. Kecskemét also had a good end to the season and their El-Salvadorian striker Rafael Burgos, who helped them to a 7^th place finish, has already been picked up by the champions Győr.

Diósgyőr were far from impressive this season after signing some really talented player’s not least former Genoa striker Gergely Rudolf and Hungarian international Ákos Elek. Coupled with their already impressive squad, a European push was definitely expected of them, but a poor 10^th place finish is what materialised. Haladás’s young side performed well to grab 8^th, but as is the norm with the side from Szombathely, they look set to lose their best talents with András Radó, Richárd Guzmics and Márk Jagodics all tipped to move on. Újpest, Paks, Pécs and Kaposvár all had solid season’s and never had a chance of being relegated – however Lilák will be needing to perform better next year with such an expectant fan base behind them.

Egri FC finished bottom of the league by 13 points in the end. It was always going to be a tough season, and without Norbert Németh’s 9 goals, they’d have finished in an even worse position. They were also unable to host a single home game this season, as they have no floodlights, and will be dropping down two divisions to play NBIII football in 2013/14.

Siófok were unlucky to go down in the end after winning three of their last five, but when the pressure was on them, they were unable to beat Újpest, when a victory would have definitely kept them up. They looked down and out at the turn of the year when they were 11 points adrift, but after an upsurge in form and an inspired Péter Kurucz in goal, they dramatically turned their fortunes round, but it ended up being too little too late. Lombard Pápa were fortunate, surviving by three points in the end, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the talented trio of Maric, Quintero and Griffiths will be wanting to carry on playing their football in Pápa next season.

There were a quite a few standout players this season in NBI. András Radó was brilliant in his first full senior season. The 19 year old ended the season with 7 goals to his name and is widely tipped to move to Videoton in the summer. István Kovács was again brilliant and reaffirmed himself as the future star of Hungarian football. Adamo Coulibaly continued his consistency, again becoming the top scorer in NBI, this time with 19 goals – he now looks set to move to Győr. Dániel Böde grabbed 18 goals in his first season at Ferencváros while József Kanta’s return to NBI saw him voted Nemzeti Sport’s player of the season. Also honourable mentions to: Quintero (Pápa), Roland Szolnoki, Roland Varga (Győr), Richárd Guzmics (Haladás), Paulo Vinicius (Videoton), Gábor Gyömbér (Ferencváros), Nikola Trajkovic (Győr), Péter Kabát (Újpest), János Lázok (MTK/Paks), Muhammed Besic (Ferencváros), Péter Kurucz (Siófok), Paraiba (Videoton) Dénes Dibusz (Pécs), Dušan Vasiljević (Újpest),  Davide Lanzafame (Honvéd), Máté Pátkai (Győr), Rafael Burgos (Kecskemét)  and Arturo Alvarez (Videoton)

 

Champions:

Győr

Magyar Kupa Winners:

Debrecen

Liga Kupa Winners:

Ferencváros

European Places:

Győr (Champions League – second qualifying round)

Videoton (Europa League – first qualifying round)

Budapest Honvéd (Europa League – first qualifying round)

Debrecen (Magyar Kupa Winners) (Europa League – second qualifying round)

Relegated:

Siófok

Egri FC (to NBIII)

Promoted: 

Mezőkövesd-Zsóry

Puskás Academia

Game of the Season – Győr 3-4 Paks (Week 25): The runaway leaders went into the game on the back of a desperately poor 5-2 defeat to KTE. The loss looked to just be a minor blip, and ETO knew a win would all but secure their first NBI title in 30 years. Things couldn’t have got off to a better start for Győr and they were ahead inside 10 minutes through Dániel Völgyi. Marek Střeštík and Đorđe Kamber added to Völgyi’s goal and the champions elect looked to be cruising. More was expected in the second half, but a Paks side who had nothing to play for, had other ideas. A quickfire double from Bartha and Lázok got Paks back to 3-2 before Márton Eppel scrambled the equaliser home with 12 minutes to play. The ascendency was with the visitors, and just as the clock crossed into added time, substitute Norbert Könyves did the unthinkable by curling an absolute beauty in the top corner to send Paks into ecstasy. Thankfully for Győr, it wasn’t to cost them the title, but it was an incredible piece of drama so late in the season.

Quote of the Season:
“I hope everyone realises the effort it took to regain the league championship after 30 years. This success is not just the team’s, but the supporters’ too. Everyone knows that we achieved this together.”
Pintér after his Győr clinched the title.

Hungarian NBI – 2012/2013

Thanks to http://uk.soccerway.com/

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