First win for 1. FK Svidník with new manager Jozef Motýl'

1. FK Svidník - Partizán Bardejov BŠK 2-0 (2-0)

Vasil' 21', Reiter 44'

Sunday, 10 March 2024, 2:30 pm local time (1:30 pm UTC), Mestský futbálový štadion, Svidník, Slovakia, 17th round of the Slovak Third League - East.

The referees and the two teams, 1. FK Svidník (in red) and Partizán Bardejov (in blue), enter the field. Photo source: 1. FK Svidník Facebook page

1. FK Svidník starting line-up, and the referees before the start of the game. Photo source: 1. FK Svidník Facebook page

1. FK Svidník went through some changes this winter, especially in terms of players and managers, and now Jozef Motýl' is the new manager, appointed to save the team from relegation. Several new players came in, and the team looks much better than it was in the first half of the season, so there are legitimate hopes that they will improve their results and finish above the relegation line. In the first match of the spring season, however, they lost 2-0 at home to leaders and local rivals Tesla Stropkov, which caused disappointment. Nonetheless, the next game, against former parent team Partizán Bardejov was better prepared and 1. FK Svidník succeeded to win after a difficult and heavy-battled game.

1. FK Svidník was at its best, keeping a clean sheet. Here, defender Norbert Grejták and goalkeeper Filip Baláž (both on the ground) successfully block the visitors' attack. Photo source: 1. FK Svidník Facebook page

The match started with Partizán Bardejov maintaining possession and attacking continuously for about the first ten minutes or so, but then 1. FK Svidník balanced the game and had their first chance by means of Oleksandr Voitiuk (15'). The home side prepared well the set pieces, and therefore every corner kick (or free kick) posed a real danger to the opposite defence, as proven shortly after. A corner kick from the right side, taken by Peter Šimco, led to the first goal, as the Bardejov goalkeeper Johan Molleja was unable to reach the ball and Cyril Vasil', practically on the goal line at the far post, headed in: 1-0 (21').

Every cross in Bardejov box represent a real danger. In one of these crosses, Cyril Vasil' (no. 15, in red) scored the first goal of the match. Photo source: 1. FK Svidník Facebook page

The goal did not change much the game, and both teams struggled in the remaining minutes to score. The visitors seemed less capable of creating dangerous opportunities, while 1. FK Svidník had some very solid offensive actions, pressing hard to increase their lead. This eventually happened right before the break, after a very similar action to the one which led to the first goal. Again, Peter Šimco took the corner from the right side. Again, the goalkeeper stood helplessly at the near post and the ball went over him to the far post. The only difference was that Cyril Vasil' and then Norbert Grejták's shot was blocked by defenders standing on the goal line, but then the ball reached Oliver Reiter inside the box, and his powerful left-footed shot went in: 2-0 (44').

Cyril Vasil' and Norbert Grejták (near the ball) were blocked by the defenders standing on the goal line or near it, but then the ball reached Oliver Reiter (merely visible behind the defenders) who scored the second goal for 1. FK Svidník. Photo source: 1. FK Svidník Facebook page

Despite the two-goal difference at half time, the match was far from over. The visitors started the second half very determined to come back in this game, and Jaroslav Kmec's shot hit the post (49') - the biggest opportunity that Partizán Bardejov had in this game.

Gradually, the game became more fragmented and disputed especially in between the boxes, with the home side succeeding to absorbe well the pressure and even to create more chances, as Tadeaš Leško missed two good opportunities to make it 3-0.

1. FK Svidník players celebrate one of their goals. Photo source: 1. FK Svidník Facebook page

The match continued to be highly disputed till the very end, and the referee had to award many yellow cards and eventually red cards. A foul by Jakub Štefančin (Partizán Bardejov) on Marek Zlacký ignited the spirits in the field, and Norbert Grejták (1. FK Svidník) had a conflict with Dávid Velásquez. Initially, both Grejták and Velásquez received yellow cards, but then the referee changed his mind, after talking to the assistant referees, and awarded Grejták a straight red card (83'). After Jakub Štefančin recovered and was ready to start over, he also received a yellow card for his foul on Zlacký, which was the second yellow card for this player, who was therefore also sent off (86'). So, actually both teams finished the game in ten people.

The match was highly disputed. Photo source: 1. FK Svidník Facebook page

This is a crucial win for 1. FK Svidník, which get to only one point behind Tatran Oravské Veselé and three points behind their opponents, Partizán Bardejov BŠK.

Svidník: Baláž - Ducár (Fedor 68'), Grejták, Šimco, Balica - Leško, Vasil', Jurč, Zlacký - Reiter, Voitiuk (Klučár 90'). Manager: Jozef Motýl'.

Bardejov: Molleja - Petrišák, Mbang, Kukulský, Kuhajdík (Makel' 79'), Velásquez, Štefančin, Kmec (Zamborský 56'), Stachura, Berecký, Mena. Manager: Rastislav Kica.

Referee: Radoslav Bobko.

Yellow cards: Jurč 50', Vasil' 58', Voitiuk 79', Zlacký 90' - Petrišák 20', Berecký 37', Štefančin 40', 86', Velásquez 83', Varešinský 83' (on the bench), Kendra 86' (on the bench).

Red cards: Grejták 83' - Štefančin 86'.

In the next round, 1. FK Svidník will play again at home, on Sunday, against Slávia TU Košice, while Partizán Bardejov BŠK will play away, to FTC Fil'akovo.

Full results, table and fixtures:

Round 17 (9-10 March 2024)

 

MFK Vranov nad Topľou – Stará Ľubovňa Redfox FC 3-1

ŠK Odeva Lipany – TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé 2-1

Slávia TU Košice – MŠK Spišské Podhradie 2-1

TJ Baník Kalinovo – MŠK Námestovo 3-0

MŠK Rimavská Sobota – MŠK Novohrad Lučenec 3-0

1. FK Svidník – Partizán Bardejov BŠK 2-0

MŠK Tesla Stropkov – FTC Fiľakovo 1-2

MFK Snina bye

 

Table

 

1	MŠK Tesla Stropkov	16	10	4	2	36-12	34	Promotion to 2. Liga
2	MŠK Rimavská Sobota	16	10	4	2	33-15	34
3	Stará Ľubovňa Redfox FC	16	8	3	5	28-26	27
4	ŠK Odeva Lipany	16	8	1	7	29-24	25
5	Slávia TU Košice	16	7	4	5	27-22	25
6	FTC Fiľakovo	16	7	3	6	21-25	24
7	MFK Snina	15	6	5	4	32-29	23
8	TJ Baník Kalinovo	16	7	1	8	32-30	22
9	MFK Vranov nad Topl’ou	15	6	3	6	34-29	21
10	MŠK Novohrad Lučenec	16	5	4	7	15-27	19
11	MŠK Námestovo	16	5	3	8	24-25	18
12	MŠK Spišské Podhradie	16	4	5	7	27-30	17
13	Partizán Bardejov BŠK	16	4	4	8	23-38	16
14	TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé	16	4	2	10	16-27	14	Possible relegation to 4. Liga
15	1. FK Svidník	16	3	4	9	18-36	13	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 18 (16-17 March 2024)

 

MŠK Novohrad Lučenec – MŠK Námestovo

Stará Ľubovňa Redfox FC – MFK Snina

MŠK Spišské Podhradie – ŠK Odeva Lipany

FTC Fiľakovo – Partizán Bardejov BŠK

TJ Tatran Oravské Veselé – MFK Vranov nad Topľou

1. FK Svidník – Slávia TU Košice

TJ Baník Kalinovo – MŠK Tesla Stropkov

MŠK Rimavská Sobota bye