1. FK Svidník lost 4-0 to Tesla Stropkov in local derby

Sunday, 29 August 2021, 4 pm local time (2 pm UTC), Mestský futbalový štadion, Svidník, Slovakia, the 6th round of the Slovak Third League - East (3. Liga - Východ).

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a large crowd gathered in the Svidník stadium stands to watch the most expected match of the season for 1. FK Svidník, the derby against neighbouring rivals MŠK Tesla Stropkov. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the visitors won 4-0 and the negative run of the Svidník team has now extended to six consecutive defeats, counting only those from the start of this season. The new Polish manager, Lech Czaja, for the first time officially on the Svidník bench, have not had enough time to put this team together, although there are some signs of improvement, which are expected to pay off in the following rounds. On the other hand, the visitors have an extraordinary start of the season and are second in the table, only two points behind the leaders, with five wins and one draw in six matches.

The first half was more balanced. Tesla Stropkov dominated more, but the home side fought hard and reached the opposite box for a few instances. However, most of the game was played in Svidník's own half, and goalkeeper Anton Dzupina had to make several outstanding saves. He could do nothing when a shot from outside the box was deflected by his own defender, Timotej Čabala: 0-1 (21').

The second half started way better, with the home side attacking more courageously, while the visitors had a number of several dangerous counterattacks. Haňak missed the biggest opportunity for Svidník (50'), and instead of 1-1, it was 0-2: Frederik Varga won a ball inside the box, crossed to Sameliy Somov, who scored from short range at the far post (60'). After this second goal, the home side enthusiasm and physical strength decreased steadily, and the visitors controlled the game at ease. Their striker, Frederik Varga, scored another goal from inside the box, after an assist from the left side: 0-3 (77'). The nost beautiful goal of the game was scored by sub Branislav Artim, who just came in, with a splendid shot from mid-range to the upper-right corner: 0-4 (79').

Svidník: Dzupina - T. Čabala (A. Košč 74'), Kasperkowicz, Shliakhov, Makara - Kubis (Gajdoš 80'), Jucha, Paňko (Daňo 74'), Guman - Oravec - Haňak. Manager: Lech Czaja.

Stropkov: Dlugoš - M. Matkobiš, Zapotocký (Viet Nguyen Hien 85'), Kmit', Križanovský, Polaščík (Artim 74'), Špak, Bochin, Voitiuk (K. Matkobiš 85'), Varga (Korba 85'), Somov (Slobodník 74'). Manager: L'uboš Reiter.

Referee: Jakub Eperješi.

Yellow cards: Kasperkowicz 45', Jucha 63' - Somov 55', Viet Nguyen Hien 87', Korba 90'.

One notices many former Svidník players in the Stropkov team: Marek and Kristián Matkobiš, former Svidník captain Lukáš Zapotocký, Lukáš Križanovský, Viktor Bochin. One can only wonder what a great team would have been in Svidník, with only these players added to the existing ones.

In the next round, 1. FK Svidník will play away at leaders FK Spišská Nová Ves. The two teams have perfectly opposed lines in the table: one team has won all the six games so far, the other has lost all six games. There is not much debate on the chances of the Svidník team in this game. On the other hand, Tesla Stropkov will face newly-promoted OFK-SIM Raslavice, at home, and have good chances to stay at least for another week in second place.

For 1. FK Svidník, the good news is that the difficult matches will somehow come to an end. They have already played against all top teams in the group, and after this round, they will face more accessible teams and they will be able to make some points and to get out of the last place in the classification.

Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 6 (28-29 August 2021)

 

MFK Slovan Giraltovce – MFK Snina 2-1

FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy – FK Spišská Nová Ves 1-4

1. FC Tatran Prešov – Slávia TU Košice 1-0

ŠK Odeva Lipany – MFK Vranov nad Topľou 3-0

OŠK Rudňany – MŠK Spišské Podhradie 1-1

FK Sobrance-Sobranecko – FK Poprad 1-2

1. FK Svidník – MŠK Tesla Stropkov 0-4

OFK-SIM Raslavice – TJ Mladosť Kalša 2-5

 

Table

 

1	FK Spišská Nová Ves	6	6	0	0	21-3	18	Promotion to 2. Liga
2	MŠK Tesla Stropkov	6	5	1	0	18-3	16
3	1. FC Tatran Prešov	6	5	0	1	27-6	15
4	ŠK Odeva Lipany	6	4	2	0	28-5	14
5	MFK Vranov nad Topl’ou	6	4	1	1	16-8	13
6	Slávia TU Košice	6	3	2	1	15-6	11
7	TJ Mladosť Kalša	6	3	1	2	16-11	10
8	MFK Snina	6	3	1	2	11-7	10
9	MFK Slovan Giraltovce	6	2	1	3	8-10	7
10	FK Poprad	6	2	1	3	8-11	7
11	OFK-SIM Raslavice	6	1	2	3	9-19	5
12	FK Sobrance-Sobranecko	6	1	1	4	6-12	4
13	OŠK Rudňany	6	1	1	4	11-22	4
14	FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy	6	0	1	5	5-24	1
15	MŠK Spišské Podhradie	6	0	1	5	2-22	1	Relegation to 4. Liga
16	1. FK Svidník	6	0	0	6	3-35	0	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 7 (4-5 September 2021)

 

MFK Vranov nad Topľou – 1. FC Tatran Prešov

FK Spišská Nová Ves – 1. FK Svidník

FK Poprad – FK Pokrok SEZ Krompachy

Slávia TU Košice – OŠK Rudňany

MFK Snina – FK Sobrance-Sobranecko

MŠK Spišské Podhradie – MFK Slovan Giraltovce

TJ Mladosť Kalša – ŠK Odeva Lipany

MŠK Tesla Stropkov – OFK-SIM Raslavice