NK Osijek 2-1 Budapest Honved FC
International Club Friendly | July 19, 2026

NK Osijek kicked off their pre-season campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hungarian side Budapest Honved FC in an international club friendly played on July 19, 2026. The match, held at Osijek's training ground in front of a modest but vocal crowd, saw the Croatian top-flight side edge past their visitors thanks to a strong second-half display.

First Half – Honved Take the Lead

Budapest Honved started brightly, pressing high against an Osijek side still finding its rhythm after the summer break. The visitors' persistence paid off in the 23rd minute when a swift counter-attack caught the home defence off guard. Striker Bence Tóth latched onto a through ball and slotted calmly past Osijek goalkeeper Marko Malenica to give Honved a 1-0 lead. Osijek struggled to create clear chances in the opening period, with the midfield battle largely dominated by Honved's physical approach.

Second Half – Osijek Respond

Osijek manager Zoran Zekić made tactical adjustments at the break, introducing fresh legs in midfield and instructing his full-backs to push higher. The changes immediately paid off. In the 52nd minute, a well-worked move down the right flank saw winger Mihael Žaper deliver a pinpoint cross that was met by forward Ladislav Almási, who powered a header past the Honved goalkeeper to level the scores.

Buoyed by the equaliser, Osijek took control of possession and began to dictate the tempo. The winning goal came in the 74th minute after a period of sustained pressure. A corner kick was only half-cleared, and midfielder Kristijan Lovrić unleashed a ferocious half-volley from the edge of the box that flew into the top corner. It was a moment of genuine quality that ultimately decided the contest.

Key Performances

• Ladislav Almási – The Osijek striker was a constant threat after the break, scoring the equaliser and holding up play effectively.
• Kristijan Lovrić – Scored the winner with a stunning strike and added energy in the middle of the park.
• Bence Tóth – Honved’s forward was lively and took his goal well, but lacked service in the second half.

What It Means

For NK Osijek, this win provides a confidence boost as they prepare for the upcoming HNL season. The ability to come from behind and assert dominance in the final half-hour will please the coaching staff. Budapest Honved, meanwhile, will take positives from a solid first-half performance but will need to improve their defensive concentration against stronger opponents in their own pre-season schedule.

Both sides are expected to play further friendlies in the coming weeks as they fine-tune their tactics ahead of competitive action.