The first and the last in the table have met in the 17th round of the Slovak Third League - East

1. FC Tatran Prešov - 1. FK Svidník 5-1 (2-0)

Dolný 11', 52', Gajdoš 17' (own goal), Berecký 61', Haščák 90' - Ivanecký 87' (penalty).

Saturday, 19 March 2022, 3 pm local time (2 pm UTC), FC Pivovar Šariš Stadium, Vel'ký Šariš, Slovakia, 17th round of the Slovak Third League - East (3. Liga - Východ).

One can hardly imagine a game more unbalanced than the one between the first and the last classified in the table of any league, on the ground of the former. Therefore, there was no surprise that the leaders (Tatran Prešov) won easily over the last classified (1. FK Svidník). In fact, right before the game, Tatran Prešov did not know that they were about to become leaders of the group, as few thought that FK Spišská Nová Ves would be unable to win at home over MFK Snina. And in just two rounds, with two bad results for FK Spišská Nova Ves, and two comfortable wins for 1. FC Tatran Prešov, the latter closed the five-point gap which separated the two teams in the top of the table. This surprising negative run for FK Spišská Nová Ves, after an almost perfect first half of the season, gives new hopes to 1. FC Tatran Prešov. Still, they would need to play in their own town and on their own ground. For the moment, they play their home matches in Vel'ký Šariš.

The match had no history whatsoever. The home side scored twice in the start of the game, making sure that the match is won early. First, an action on the right side ended with a cross in front of the goal, which took a deflection, and left Dolný all alone with an empty net: 1-0 (11'). Then, a cross from the left side was deflected in his own goal by unfortunate Gajdoš, surprising the goalkeeper: 2-0 (17'). The score could have risen up a lot, but Svidník goalkeeper made lots of saves. The visitors played rather bravely, attacking from time to time, and leaving large open spaces in the defense. However, they had few real chances of scoring.

The second half developed very much like the first. The home side pushed for a third goal, which came quickly, as the same Gajdoš (who had a miserable game in a position which does not fit him, that of central back) lost a ball in a delicate position in his own half, and the Prešov attackers charged mercilessly, Dolný finishing the action: 3-0 (52'). A free kick from the right side was executed into the box, and Berecký headed the ball in for 4-0 (61'). The goals could have continued, but just like in the first half, Vinclér saved many shots, while Prešov players became relaxed and missed many opportunities.

Towards the end, 1. FK Svidník, which continued to play courageously, had their consolation goal, which came from a penalty, awarded for a foul inside the box, and executed by Ivanecký: 4-1 (87'). The fact that they received a goal seemed to make the home side very angry, and they took the final minutes very seriously, trying to re-establish the four-goal difference, which they eventually succeeded, by means of Haščák: 5-1 (90').

Prešov: Knurovský - Hatok (Macejko 82'), Jarzebak (Elexa 73'), Berecký (Tatar 82'), Petko, Kral'ovič (Haščák 64'), Milunović, Pyda, Macej (Olejár 64'), Karaš, Dolný. Manager: Stanislav Šesták.

Svidník: Vinclér - Ducár (Bartoš 84'), D. Čabala, Gajdoš, Makara - Ardishvili (Pavlović 76'), Sova (Oravec 73'), Ivanecký, Hirka -  Haňak, Špilár. Manager: Vladislav Palša.

Referee: Jakub Eperješi.

Yellow cards: Jarzebak 25' - Ducár 26', Ardishvili 66'.

For 1. FK Svidník, this defeat was probably already accounted for. It interesting to note that they had a good match against ŠK Odeva Lipany a week ago, at home, losing 1-0 (only), after they had lost 12-0 away at Lipany in summer. Their next match will be at home against Slávia TU Košice, on Sunday.

Full results of the last two rounds, table and fixtures:

 

Round 16 (12-13 March 2022)

 

FK Poprad – FK Spišská Nová Ves 3-1

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – MFK Vranov nad Topľou 1-1

FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy – 1. FC Tatran Prešov 0-4

OŠK Rudňany – OFK-SIM Raslavice 1-2

1. FK Svidník – ŠK Odeva Lipany 0-1

FK Sobrance-Sobranecko – Slávia TU Košice 3-4

MFK Snina – MŠK Tesla Stropkov 3-0

MŠK Spišské Podhradie – TJ Mladosť Kalša 5-3

 

Round 17 (19-20 March 2022)

 

MFK Vranov nad Topľou – FK Sobrance-Sobranecko 1-1

FK Spišská Nová Ves – MFK Snina 1-1

FK Poprad – OŠK Rudňany 2-0

ŠK Odeva Lipany – OFK-SIM Raslavice 4-0

1. FC Tatran Prešov – 1. FK Svidník 5-1

Slávia TU Košice – FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy 2-0

MŠK Tesla Stropkov – MŠK Spišské Podhradie 9-0

TJ Mladosť Kalša – MFK Slovan Giraltovce 2-1

 

Table

 

1	1. FC Tatran Prešov	17	14	0	3	62-15	42	Promotion to 2. Liga
2	FK Spišská Nová Ves	17	13	3	1	48-11	42
3	ŠK Odeva Lipany	17	11	5	1	54-14	38
4	Slávia TU Košice	17	10	5	2	45-16	35
5	MŠK Tesla Stropkov	17	10	2	5	38-15	32
6	MFK Snina	17	10	2	5	36-20	32
7	FK Poprad	17	9	3	5	30-20	30
8	MFK Vranov nad Topl’ou	17	8	4	5	37-24	28
9	MFK Slovan Giraltovce	17	6	3	8	20-28	21	Relegation to 4. Liga
10	TJ Mladosť Kalša	17	6	3	8	33-46	21	Relegation to 4. Liga
11	FK Sobrance-Sobranecko	17	4	3	10	20-31	15	Relegation to 4. Liga
12	OFK-SIM Raslavice	17	4	3	10	17-38	15	Relegation to 4. Liga
13	OŠK Rudňany	17	4	1	12	27-47	13	Relegation to 4. Liga
14	MŠK Spišské Podhradie	17	2	3	12	10-57	9	Relegation to 4. Liga
15	FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy	16	2	1	13	13-51	7	Relegation to 4. Liga
16	1. FK Svidník	16	1	1	14	9-66	4	Relegation to 5. Liga

 

In case that two or more teams are equal on points, the main ranking criteria are the results of the head-to-head matches.

 

Round 18 (26-27 March 2022)

 

OŠK Rudňany – ŠK Odeva Lipany

FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy – MFK Vranov nad Topľou

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – MŠK Tesla Stropkov

MFK Snina – FK Poprad

MŠK Spišské Podhradie – FK Spišská Nová Ves

OFK-SIM Raslavice – 1. FC Tatran Prešov

1. FK Svidník – Slávia TU Košice

FK Sobrance-Sobranecko – TJ Mladosť Kalša