Veszprém Edges Szeged in Thrilling Hungarian Cup Semi-Final

In a thrilling encounter that showcased the best of Hungarian handball, our Szeged team battled fiercely against rivals Veszprém in the Hungarian Cup semi-finals. The match, a true testament to the sport's excitement, was a nail-biting affair, with the outcome hanging on the thinnest of margins.

“

I felt from the inside that we have ourselves to thank for how this match turned out, and that we didn't win it. We had several opportunities in the first half when we could have pulled away a bit. We could have led by more goals, but we didn't, and going into the endgame like that… One has to be a strong person to easily defeat this Veszprém team at the end, or even defeat them at all.

Despite a valiant effort from our Szeged players, who led by two goals on multiple occasions, Veszprém managed to equalize and force a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Roland Mikler, who made fifteen saves, acknowledged the role of luck in the penalty decider, stating that while skill is paramount, fortune favored Veszprém on this occasion. This sentiment was echoed by Veszprém's defensive specialist, Patrik Ligetvári, who praised the intense competition as a advertisement for the sport.

“

At the penalty shootouts, it's not just skill that counts, luck also influences the outcome, and it favored Veszprém this time.

While the loss is undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow for our Szeged faithful, the team's performance demonstrated their fighting spirit and the high caliber of Hungarian handball. Veszprém's remarkable achievement of reaching their 40th consecutive cup final, a streak stretching back to 1985, underscores the enduring strength of Hungarian clubs in European handball. We look forward to their final match, hoping for a strong showing regardless of the opponent.

“

We need more matches like this, more of this. The fans saw a hard-fought battle where we made one fewer mistake. We brought huge teamwork to the court, which paid off. We are tired, but we don't have much time to rest: the final is tomorrow. We don't know our opponent yet, but neither NEKA nor Tatabánya will give up the win easily.