Hódmezővásárhely Edge Honvéd II in a Vital Home Win to Halt Slide and Reignite NB III Hopes

On a crisp October afternoon in Hódmezővásárhely, the local faithful finally had reason to cheer as their side clawed back momentum with a slender but hard-fought 2-1 victory over Honvéd II in the NB III Southeast—halting a worrying run and keeping their season on track as autumn deepens.

The mood at Hódmezővásárhelyi Városi Stadion was anxious pre-kickoff. Hódmezővásárhely, rooted in mid-table with just 15 points from 11 matches, had dropped four of their last five contests—a slide punctuated by a humbling 4-1 defeat at Gyulai Termál only a week prior. Honvéd II, visitors from the capital, arrived with their own baggage: one win in five and teetering in 12th place, a mere four points above the relegation zone. The stakes, even this early in the campaign, felt unmistakable.

A Match of Tension, Decided by Margins

The opening phase mirrored the standings: cagey, stuttering, heavy on industry. Both teams pressed with urgency but lacked incision. The home side went closest early, a fizzing drive from outside the box forcing the Honvéd II goalkeeper into a sharp low save.

Approaching halftime, a pivotal moment broke the deadlock. A quick turnover in midfield saw Hódmezővásárhely’s midfield orchestrator thread a precise pass out wide, releasing their attacking winger. A low cross zipped past two defenders before being met at the near post and turned in—sending the home crowd into raptures.

The goal, scored just before the interval, proved an essential psychological boost for the hosts and a body blow for Honvéd II. Any ambitions the visitors harbored of mounting a comeback were immediately put to the test in a bruising second half.

Honvéd II Responds, but Hódmezővásárhely Stands Firm

The visitors pressed high after the break, finally finding a moment of quality to restore parity midway through the half. A slick sequence down the left unlocked the defense, and a clinical finish brought the teams level. Yet, parity was fleeting: Hódmezővásárhely responded almost instantly, capitalizing on defensive lapses as Honvéd II struggled to reorganize. The home side’s forward pounced on a loose ball in the area, firing home what would be the decisive goal.

As the clock ticked down, tensions flared. A booking apiece for rash tackles reflected the rising stakes, though the referee managed the physicality without resorting to red. In the game’s dying moments, Honvéd II surged forward, searching for a late equalizer. But Hódmezővásárhely’s defense—so porous in recent weeks—held resolute, preserving a precious three points.

Context and Consequence

For Hódmezővásárhely, this win could prove a season-defining moment. Shedding the weight of consecutive defeats, they stabilize in 7th place with 18 points from 12 matches—a platform to chase the upper echelons as winter approaches. Crucially, it restores faith in their ability to close out tense matches, a trait that has eluded them since a 5-1 rout of Martfűi LSE last month.

Honvéd II, meanwhile, remain mired in 12th, now winless in four of their last five outings. The frailties exposed today—particularly a defense vulnerable in transition—will demand urgent attention from the coaching staff. Their buffer over the drop zone is now perilously thin, and with tougher fixtures looming, the pressure only ratchets up.

Recent Form: A Tale of Two Trajectories

• Hódmezővásárhely’s last five: LLWLL (including cup and league): a much-needed break in the downward spiral.
• Honvéd II’s last five: WDLLD; the short-lived boost from last week’s 2-0 win over ESMTK now feels distant.

While details of their head-to-head history remain sparse, today’s clash underscored the unpredictable margins that separate progress from stagnation in Hungary’s competitive third tier.

What Lies Ahead

For Hódmezővásárhely, the mission now is clarity: build on this momentum and turn a sporadic campaign into a concerted push up the table. The resilience shown today, especially in holding a lead under pressure, will be the template for the weeks ahead.

Honvéd II, now searching for answers, must regroup quickly. Improvement at both ends of the pitch is essential if they are to avoid being drawn into a relegation dogfight.

On an afternoon that began weighed down by recent disappointments, Hódmezővásárhely found not just three points, but perhaps a turning point—one that could give shape to their campaign as the season’s chill sets in.