Stalemate in Felcsút: Puskas Academy and Ujpest Play Out Cagey Scoreless Draw at Pancho Arena

Felcsút, Hungary — For all the anticipation at Pancho Arena on Saturday afternoon, neither Puskas Academy nor Ujpest could find the decisive edge, grinding to a tense 0-0 draw in Round 9 of the NB I regular season. Both sides entered hungry for momentum but ultimately left with reasons to rue missed chances and celebrate defensive resolve.

From the opening whistle, Ujpest, under Damir Krznar, sought control, dictating play through crisp passing—racking up 57% possession and completing 472 passes at 82% accuracy. Their discipline kept the hosts penned back early, Krisztofer Horváth and Iuri Medeiros probing from midfield, but Puskas Academy’s back line, marshaled by Wojciech Golla and Georgiy Harutyunyan, stayed compact and resilient.

Puskas Academy, led by Zsolt Hornyák, absorbed pressure and countered with directness. Despite enjoying less possession, they registered a match-high 16 shots, nine of which came from corners, as Quentin Maceiras and Dániel Lukács repeatedly tested Ujpest’s Italian goalkeeper Riccardo Piscitelli. However, accuracy deserted the home side—only three attempts hit the target, with Piscitelli making three crucial saves.

The game’s rhythm was punctuated by gritty midfield battles and a flurry of fouls—Puskas Academy committed 13 to Ujpest’s seven. The physicality boiled over in the 30th minute, as Michael Okeke received the match’s first yellow card for a late challenge. João Nunes (Ujpest) followed suit before halftime and Benedek Geiger was booked deep into stoppage time as tempers briefly flared.

Second-half substitutions brought renewed energy but little breakthrough. Gleofilo Vlijter’s withdrawal for fresh legs at 60' signaled Ujpest’s search for pace, while Palkó Dárdai and András Németh entered for the hosts as tactical chess unfolded. Puskas Academy grew into the half, generating more chances—Dániel Lukács had a late header tipped over—but a lack of clinical finishing kept the scoreboard still.

Ujpest threatened through measured build-up, with five shots on target to Puskas Academy’s three, but Péter Szappanos stood tall between the posts, registering four saves and commanding his area under aerial pressure.

Ultimately, the match will be remembered more for what might have been than for moments of attacking brilliance. Both managers will take solace in defensive organization but know a repeat of this profligacy will be costly as the season intensifies. With Puskas Academy sitting sixth and Ujpest eighth in the table, the draw does little to change the complexion of their campaigns—though the fight for European places remains brutally tight.

For neutral observers and fans searching for turning points, Pancho Arena witnessed a contest high on ambition but short on execution—a stalemate that sets the stage for higher stakes in the matches to come.