Tatran Prešov Run Riot in Slovnaft Cup: Seven-Goal Masterclass Leaves Breznica Shell-Shocked

Tatran Prešov delivered a statement of intent in the Slovak Cup on Wednesday afternoon, dismantling TJ Družstevník Breznica 7-0 in a performance as ruthless as it was clinical, sending a clear message to their rivals and booking a place in the next round with unflinching authority.

On a chilly October day at an undisclosed ground, the gulf in class between Slovakia’s Super Liga newcomers and their fifth-tier hosts became apparent almost from the opening whistle. Tatran Prešov, a club familiar with the rigors of top-flight football and eager to erase the frustrations of their recent league draws, approached the tie with the professionalism demanded by their proud history. Breznica, perched mid-table in their regional league and buoyed by earlier Cup heroics, found themselves overwhelmed as the match quickly spiraled beyond their control.

The opening phase saw Breznica attempt to press high and disrupt Prešov’s rhythm, but the visitors’ technical superiority soon told. It was in the 21st minute that Tatran drew first blood, a well-worked move carving open the Breznica back line and finishing with the ball nestling in the net. The identity of the first scorer, lost amid the flurry of subsequent goals, became academic as the match progressed.

From there, Tatran Prešov turned on the afterburners. The visitors’ midfield dictated proceedings, orchestrating attacks with poise and precision while Breznica’s defenders struggled to cope with wave after wave of green-shirted assaults. Before the interval, Prešov had doubled their lead, and by the hour mark the result was beyond doubt, as a flurry of goals showcased the attacking depth that has seen them compete credibly in the Super Liga this autumn.

By full time, the scoreboard told the story: seven unanswered goals, a margin rarely seen at this stage of the Cup, and a chastening day for Breznica. The hosts, who entered the contest on the back of a narrow Cup victory at Jamník and a respectable run in league play, could not muster a response on this occasion. Their back line, so resilient in previous rounds, simply could not withstand the relentless tempo and movement of Tatran’s front men.

Tatran’s comprehensive victory stands in sharp contrast to their recent league form, where draws at Komárno and FK Košice had exposed their struggles to convert dominance into results. The Cup, however, has proven a different story. As in their last round, when they scored seven on the road against Cana, Tatran showed a clinical edge that has eluded them in the league. The return of attacking fluency—and the confidence that comes with such a resounding win—could well prove the spark needed for a league campaign that started brightly but has stuttered in recent weeks.

For Breznica, the match will serve as both a lesson and a reminder of the steep climb between Slovakia’s lower divisions and its professional elite. Their Cup journey, marked by notable victories over Šiba and Raslavice and capped by a battling win at Jamník, now ends with a result they will hope does not disrupt their steady league form. Currently sixth in their regional table, Breznica will regroup and refocus on domestic matters, where their fight for a top-half finish and the pride of their local supporters continues.

As for precedents, these sides have rarely met in competitive fixtures—a reflection of their differing orbits in Slovak football. Their Cup meeting, then, became a showcase of ambition and reality: Tatran Prešov, determined to add silverware to a season of transition; Breznica, spirited but ultimately outgunned.

There were no red cards—though that was scant consolation for the hosts, who finished the match with a full complement of players but precious little else to show for their efforts. Key contributors for Tatran, including the likes of Regáli and Souček—both scorers in recent league matches—found ample opportunity to get on the board, further underlining the squad’s offensive resources and perhaps reminding manager Vladimír Cifranič what his side is capable of when given space to play.

Looking ahead, Tatran Prešov can savor a place in the next Cup round and the restoration of momentum as they return to league action. Their Cup run now attracts the attention of top-tier rivals, and the scale of this victory will not go unnoticed. For Breznica, the focus shifts back to the grind of league play—a chance to channel today’s hard lessons into renewed resilience.

In the end, this was a day for Tatran Prešov: a vivid demonstration of professional class, delivered with clinical precision, and an emphatic warning that in knockout football, there is no room for sentiment—only results.