A suffered ticket to semifinals
Despite a brave game by Ferencvarosi, a single goal scored by vetern Edijs Brahmanis is enough to secure the first place for Olimp Riga
Ferencvarosi is called to an almost impossible challenge to stay alive in the competition: the host team needs to win with at least four-goal differences against the undefeated Olimp Riga, while Latvian team could even lose with a minimum goal difference.
After a better start from Olimp, it’s Ferencvarosi to open the score with a tap-in by Gergo Nagy. Same Nagy hits the post after a speedy counterattack at minute 15 in a first period not so thrilling.
Also the central period is very balanced, both teams are aware to avoid mistakes and the game runs without emotions. In the last quarter, finally, the crowd can see some action because Ferencvaros urges to score more to have chances to advance after 5 minutes the pressure from the host is recompensed with the second goal, scored by Juhani Tamminen after a save by Bonch-Bruevich on Somogyi. The Finnish forward returns the favor at 46:40, serving Somogyi for the third goal that flames the hopes of the players and the crowd. Olimp feels the pressure conceding 2 penalties for a five-vs-three situation, a great chance for Ferencvarosi to score the qualification goal, but Latvians bravely survived.
Olimp is on a cliff, but it does not fall: with three minutes to
play a penalty is called to Adrian Toth for hooking giving the chance to
finish the game in superiority. And Olimp doesn’t waste the chance:
veteran Edijs Brahmanis finds a perfect shot in the upper angle of Nagy
cage. Coach Szabolcs Fodor pulls the goalie for the final assault but
the Latvian fort resists and despite the loss, it’s the Olimp to
celebrate