Ferencvaros and OSC Budapest advanced to the final of the playoff of the Hungarian Championships already after the first semifinal matches.
OSC beat the 2021 Hungarian champion Szolnok in the opening game of the semifinals (13:9) and took revenge for a defeat in the last season’s final.
A team that wins seven points in the semifinal series advance to the final. The points won in the encounters in the regular season have been carried to the playoffs. OSC took 4 points in the games against Szolnok in the regular season, so the final score is 7:1.
Ferencvaros entered the semifinals with 4 points, as well as OSC, but it had a much harder task. Ferencvaros defeated Vasas after a penalty shootout – 15:14.
The final matches will be played in May.
2021/22 Hungarian League, semifinals, 1st matches
1st – 4th place
Szolnok – OSC 9:13 (0:3, 5:3, 3:5, 1:2)
Szolnok: Angyal 2, A. Nagy 2, Ger.Kovacs 2, Peto 1, Konarik 1, D. Jansik 1
OSC Budapest: Vin. Vigvari 4, E. Csacsovszky 3, Burian 3, K. Manhercz 2, Salamon 1.
Points in the series: OSC – Szolnok 7:1.
Ferencvaros – Vasas 15:14 (3:0, 0:3, 4:3, 2:3, PSO 6:5)
Ferencvaros: Vamos 5 (2 in PSO), Merkulov 4 (2), Fekete 3 (1), Ubovic 1, Ven.Vigvari 1, D. Varga 1 (1)
Vasas: Batori 4 (1), Szatmari 3 (2), Erdelyi 2 (1), Bedo 2, Dr.Brguljan 2 (1), Randjelovic 1, Szatmari 1, Erdélyi 1.
Points in the series: Ferencvaros– Vasas 7:1.
A week ago, OSC and Szolnok shared the points in the last league round. Szolnok kept 2nd place in the table and earned the right to play at the home pool in the 1st and possible 3rd match in the semis. But, the outgoing champion didn’t take advantage of that.
OSC got off to a very good start and netted three unanswered goals in the first quarter. Szolnok’s players regrouped themselves during the first break and started climbing back. The hosts didn’t take a lead, but they leveled at 4:4, 5:5, 6:6, and 7:7. OSC produced a 3:0 series between the 21st and 23rd minute (Vince Vigvari 2 and Erik Csacsovskzky 1) to jump to 10:7. These three goals were the turning point. From that point on, the visitors were always ahead. Early in the fourth period, OSC stretched the margin to four (12:8) and controlled the game until the end.
Ferencvaros built a 3:0 lead with three goals in the last 184 seconds of the first quarter. But, the second period was a completely different story. Vasas netted three straight goals, and the score was 3:3 at halftime.
The teams ran neck and neck in the second half. More than a goal never separated the rivals. Vasas had a 6:5 advantage in the 23rd minute. However, Ferencvaros entered the final quarter with a 7:6 advantage. Ferencvaros took a 1-goal lead two times (8:7, 9:8) in the fourth quarter. But, Vasas leveled both times. Kristztian Bedo netted the last goal in the regular time. He hit the back of the net for 9:9 with 59 seconds to go, and the thriller entered the shootout.
The penalty shootout ended after eight rounds! Ferencvaros’ goalkeeper Soma Vogel was a hero, he saved three penalty shots. Daniil Merkulov closed the contest with a goal in the 8th round for the final score – 15:14.
5th – 8th place
BVSC – PVSK 17:5 (5:1, 5:2, 5:1, 2:1)
BVSC: M.Csapo 3, Pasztor 3, Gyarfas 3, M. Meszaros 3, M. Nagy 2, Cs.Meszaros 1, P. Irmes 1, Agh 1.
PVSK: Kereszturi 2, A.Csacsovszky 1, M. Kolozsi , Gal 1.
The points in the series: BVSC – PVSK 7:1
Honved–Szeged 12:11 (1:2, 5:1, 2:4, 4:4)
Honved: B.Ekler 4, Fejos 2, A.Manhercz 2, Sugar 2, B.Kiss 1, S. Hessels 1.
Szeged: Boros 2, Gy. Toth 2, Lakatos 2, Santa 1, Kurti 1, Baj 1, A.Kardos 1, B. Bobis 1.
The points in the series: Honved – Szeged 9:0
BVSC easily beat PVSK and advanced to the 5th-place match.
Honved carried six points from the league and needed a draw in the first game against Szeged to go through. Early in the second half, Honved built a 4-goal lead (7:3) and it seemed that the hosts would record a convincing win. But, Szeged didn’t surrender. The visitors caught up with Honved in the first minute of the fourth quarter (8:8). In the following minutes, they equalized twice (10:10 and 11:11). Adam Manhercz gave Honved a 12:11 lead. Szeged didn’t equalize in its last attack, and Honved won all 9 points in the series.
Semifinals, 9th – 12th place
Kaposvar – UVSE 14:9 (4:2, 3:2, 4:1, 3:4)
Kaposvar: Juhasz-Szelei 4, A. Horvath 3, Vindisch 2, B.Varga 2, Langiewicz 2, Berta 1.
UVSE: Bencz 2, Seeler 2, Korenyi 1, A. Szentesi 1, Cs.Hegedus 1, Zs.Ekler 1, Ionesco 1.
The points in the series 4:4.
Eger – Miskolc 17:9 (4:1, 4:3, 5:1, 4:4)
Eger: Szalai 4, B.Lorincz 3, G. Kovacs 2, Radli 2, A.Lorincz 2, Murisic 2, Santavy 1, B.Baksa 1.
Miskolc: Selley – Rauscher 3, Tozser 2, Varkonyi 2, M.Boroczky 1, Krasznai 1.
The points in the series: Eger – Miskolc 6:3.
Neither of the two semifinals duels in the playoffs for places 9th-12th hasn’t been finished yet. Both series will continue.
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