Matáv Sopron MFC 6-3 Szegedi VSE: nine-goal thriller lights up the Hungarian Cup

Matáv Sopron MFC booked their place in the next round of the Hungarian Cup in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, outlasting Szegedi VSE 6-3 in a nine-goal tie that swung back and forth before the hosts finally broke clear in the closing stages. On a night when defending was little more than a rumour, the home side's superior finishing in the final third proved decisive, turning a tense cup contest into a statement victory in front of their own supporters.

The Magyar Kupa has long been the competition where lower-division clubs dream of a giant-killing, and for long spells this tie looked like it might deliver exactly that. Szegedi VSE arrived as underdogs but played with genuine ambition, pressing high and refusing to sit back, and they twice dragged themselves back into contention before Sopron's relentless attacking finally told.

Match overview

• Competition: Hungarian Cup (Magyar Kupa), knockout stage
• Fixture: Matáv Sopron MFC vs Szegedi VSE
• Final score: Matáv Sopron MFC 6-3 Szegedi VSE
• Kick-off: 11 September 2026, evening
• Outcome: Matáv Sopron MFC advance to the next round

Cup football rewards teams who can combine control with ruthlessness, and Sopron showcased both. Where the visitors created chances in bursts, the home side created them in waves, repeatedly stretching Szeged's back line with quick switches of play and overlapping runs from full-back. By the time the final whistle blew, the scoreline had the look of a rout — but it was anything but comfortable for the first hour.

How the goals came

Sopron started on the front foot, dictating tempo and forcing Szegedi VSE into a deep, narrow block. The opening goal arrived from exactly the pattern that would define the night: a wide overload, a low cross into the corridor between centre-back and goalkeeper, and a first-time finish. Szeged responded well, though, and their equaliser came from a set piece that exposed Sopron's habit of switching off after scoring.

From there the game became an exchange of punches. Every time Sopron edged ahead, the visitors found a reply, and the Szeged travelling supporters had genuine reason to believe an upset was on. The turning point came midway through the second half, when Sopron scored twice in quick succession — the second a sweeping counter-attack finished at the back post — to open a cushion that finally allowed them to play with freedom.

Once the fourth and fifth goals went in, the tie was effectively decided. Szeged grabbed a late consolation for their third of the evening, a reward for their persistence, before Sopron restored the three-goal margin and sealed the result.

Tactical story

Sopron lined up in a shape designed to dominate possession, with a midfield runner arriving late in the box at every opportunity. That willingness to commit bodies forward was the difference between the two sides: Szeged defended with courage but often found themselves outnumbered in transition, and Sopron's attacking midfielders exploited the space behind the visiting full-backs time and again.

Szegedi VSE's plan was built on quick vertical passes and long balls into the channels, and it worked well enough to produce three goals on the road. The problem was the other end of the pitch. A high defensive line against a team with Sopron's pace was always a risk, and once the hosts started timing their runs better, the gaps became impossible to close.

Standout performers

Sopron's forward line shared the scoring duties, with the centre-forward acting as a focal point — holding the ball up, linking play and drawing defenders out of position. The wide players were equally influential, delivering the crosses and cutbacks that undid Szeged's defence. In midfield, the captain set the tempo, repeatedly recovering possession and launching attacks within two passes.

For Szegedi VSE, the goalkeeper made a string of saves that kept the scoreline from becoming embarrassing, and the No. 10 was the visitors' most dangerous outlet, drifting between the lines and creating the chances that produced their goals. Their performance deserved more than a defeat, even if the better team won.

What it means

For Matáv Sopron MFC, progression in the Hungarian Cup keeps a promising campaign alive and gives the squad valuable knockout experience. A six-goal display will boost confidence, but the three conceded will give the coaching staff plenty to review before the next round, where the standard of opposition is likely to rise.

For Szegedi VSE, the exit is disappointing but far from discouraging. Scoring three goals away from home in a national cup tie shows the squad can compete