FK Spišská Nová Ves denied top spot by 1. FK Svidník

1. FK Svidník - FK Spišská Nová Ves 1-1 (1-1)

Kristián Hirka 4' - Miloš Kozela 36' 

Sunday, 9 October 2022, 3 pm local time (1 pm UTC), Mestský futbalový štadión, Svidník, Slovakia, 10th round of the Slovak Third League - East Group (3. Liga - Východ).

There was not much difference in the field between 1. FK Svidník, a team classified in the lower half of the table, and the leaders FK Spišská Nová Ves. On the contrary, the host team started better and scored very early, after a tremendous mistake of the visiting defenders, who were unable to clear an easy ball, and, after a first shot that was blocked, Kristián Hirka found the way to the goal from inside the box: 1-0 (4').

Ján Ducár (1. FK Svidník, in red) in control of the ball. Photo source: PrzegladLigowy.com

After the goal, the visitors needed some time to recover from the shock, and then they attacked almost continuously, while 1. FK Svidník defended vigorously their narrow advantage. FK Spišská Nová Ves had several chances, and even scored, but the goal was cancelled for offside. Eventually, the goal came after a cross from the right side, followed by a header inside the box, which sent the ball right in front of the goal, where Miloš Kozela succeeded to head it in, despite the presence of two Svidník defenders: 1-1 (36').

One might have expected the visitors to continue their offensive, given their obvious objective to win and to remain on the top spot in the group, but the match became much more balanced after the equalizer.

In the second half, both teams struggled a lot for possession and launched attacks mainly by means of long balls, which were easy prey for the opposite defenders. FK Spišská Nová Ves insisted more in the attack, and their pressure increased steadily towards the end of the game. Nevertheless, the biggest goal opportunity belonged to the host team, as Kristián Hirka could have scored a brace, but his shot went above the cross bar (69'). Immediately after, Milan Vinclér had to block a dangerous attack of the visitors, and in the final minutes he had to save two short-range shots of the Spišská Nová Ves strikers (83').

1. FK Svidník resisted up until the final whistle and gathered one point, which might be very important in the fight to avoid relegation. FK Spišská Nová Ves were much less content with the point, as they lost the top position in the table and even dropped to third place.

Svidník: Vinclér - Guman (Makara 86'), Ducár, Magul'ak, T. Čabala - Olejár - Hirka, Špilár, Ivanecký, Sova (Tokar 65') - Sopko (Klučár 65'). Manager: Vladislav Palša.

Spišská Nová Ves: Gaborčík - Kunzo, Baranyi, Kamenický, Zekucia, Tkáč (Slebodník 77'), Janečka, Martinko (Ontko 77'), Šomšák (Ištvánik 66'), Vakulinskyi, Kozela (Attah Junior 66'). Manager: Branislav Ondáš.

Referee: Jaroslav Sučka.

Yellow cards: Olejár 45' - Zekucia 18', Martinko 38'.

In the next round, 1. FK Svidník will face Partizán Bardejov away, while FK Spišská Nová Ves will play at home against Tatran Oravské Veselé.

Full results, table and fixtures:

 

Round 10 (8-9 October 2022)

 

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – Partizán Bardejov BŠK 1-2

MŠK Novohrad Lučenec – TJ Baník Kalinovo 1-1

ŠK Odeva Lipany – MFK Snina 3-0

MŠK Rimavská Sobota – FK Poprad 5-1

MFK Vranov nad Topľou – MŠK Tesla Stropkov 2-1

TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé – MŠK Námestovo 0-0

FTC Fiľakovo – Slávia TU Košice 3-4

1. FK Svidník – FK Spišská Nová Ves 1-1

 

Table

 

1	ŠK Odeva Lipany	9	7	1	1	20-7	22	Promotion to 2. Liga
2	Partizán Bardejov BŠK	10	6	4	0	18-7	22
3	FK Spišská Nová Ves	10	6	3	1	17-8	21
4	MFK Vranov nad Topl’ou	10	6	2	2	23-7	20
5	TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé	10	5	2	3	15-12	17
6	MŠK Rimavská Sobota	10	5	2	3	20-14	17
7	Slávia TU Košice	10	4	2	4	16-14	14
8	MFK Snina	10	4	2	4	22-19	14
9	MŠK Tesla Stropkov	10	4	2	4	15-14	14
10	MŠK Novohrad Lučenec	10	3	5	2	9-10	14
11	MŠK Námestovo	10	3	2	5	7-10	11
12	1. FK Svidník	10	2	3	5	9-12	9
13	FK Poprad	10	2	1	7	6-20	7
14	TJ Baník Kalinovo	10	0	6	3	6-12	6
15	MFK Slovan Giraltovce	10	1	2	7	5-30	5	Relegation to 4. Liga
16	FTC Fiľakovo	10	1	1	8	9-21	4	Relegation to 4. 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 11 (15-16 October 2022)

 

FK Spišská Nová Ves – TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé

Partizán Bardejov BŠK – 1. FK Svidník

MŠK Námestovo – ŠK Odeva Lipany

FK Poprad – MFK Vranov nad Topl’ou

Slávia TU Košice – MFK Slovan Giraltovce

TJ Baník Kalinovo – MŠK Rimavská Sobota

MFK Snina – MŠK Novohrad Lučenec

MŠK Tesla Stropkov – FTC Fiľakovo