Underdogs Upset the Order: Kozarmisleny FC Stuns Budapest Honved, Shaking Up Hungary’s NB II Hierarchy
There are matches where form books are tossed aside, league tables rendered secondary, and the favorites left wondering just what went wrong. On a brisk October afternoon in Kozármisleny, the NB II’s strugglers unspooled a performance to remind Hungary’s second division that the script is never written in advance.
Kozarmisleny FC, entering the day buried in 16th place and with just a single league win all season, delivered a 2-1 triumph over high-flying Budapest Honved—a result that both defies logic and injects renewed urgency into the promotion race. The home crowd, sparse but spirited, witnessed a match laced with drama and a reminder of football’s propensity for narrative surprise.
When the opening whistle blew at Kozármislenyi Stadion, few could have predicted the intensity that would unfold. Kozarmisleny, emboldened by recent draws and the desperate need for points, pressed from the outset. Their ambition bore fruit quickly. In just the seventh minute, the hosts carved open Honved’s back line—a slick exchange in midfield releasing their forward, who fired calmly into the bottom corner, sending a jolt through home supporters. For a team that has labored near the foot of the table, it was the kind of early goal that kindles belief and stirs anxiety in the opposition ranks.
Budapest Honved, second in the league and accustomed to dictating proceedings, responded with purpose. They had dominated much of the opening phase of the campaign, racking up six wins in their first nine matches and arriving in Baranya county with eyes on the summit. Their response was measured, their buildup orderly. In the 30th minute, their persistence paid off—a well-worked move down the left culminating in an equalizer that quieted the stadium and reaffirmed Honved’s class.
Yet Kozarmisleny did not wilt. Having held off Fehérvár and Budafoki in recent draws, and with memories of their lone league win at BVSC still fresh, they recognized both the danger and the opportunity in a level contest. The second half began with renewed energy from both sides, the stakes magnified by Kozarmisleny’s need for survival and Honved’s quest for promotion.
The turning point arrived just before the hour mark. In the 58th minute, a sweeping move through midfield saw Kozarmisleny surge forward again. A deft pass split the defense, and with a flash of composure, the forward slotted home his second—and what proved to be the match-winner. Pandemonium broke out among the home contingent, while Honved, unaccustomed to trailing against lower-ranked opponents, were left reeling. The goal encapsulated both Kozarmisleny’s resilience and their commitment to attacking football, even when logic might dictate caution.
Honved pressed forward with increasing urgency, but Kozarmisleny’s defense, so often breached this campaign, held firm. There were late flurries, a handful of half-chances, but the hosts refused to break. By the day’s end, it was Kozarmisleny’s players who celebrated on the pitch, three precious points in hand—a victory as much about grit as it was about opportunity.
For Honved, this result stings. With just a single point from their last two outings—following a disappointing home draw to Tiszakecske—their grip on the top of the table weakens. The likes of Vasas and the chasing pack will see today’s upset as a chance to close ground in the weeks ahead.
Kozarmisleny, meanwhile, find themselves with newfound hope. Seven points from nine games still leaves them embedded in the relegation fight, but back-to-back unbeaten league matches and this victory over the league’s elite suggest a squad rediscovering both confidence and a knack for timely interventions. The challenge now? To harness this momentum and cobble together a run sturdy enough to drag themselves clear of the drop.
The context of the contest only magnifies its significance. Kozarmisleny’s recent form—a pair of gritty draws against Budafoki and Fehérvár, and a gutsy cup win at Nagykanizsai—had hinted at improvements, but few foresaw them toppling a Honved side that had swept aside most opposition this autumn. In the years since their last league meetings, head-to-head history rarely favored the underdogs from Baranya; today, that script was gleefully rewritten.
As the season nears its midpoint, both camps face defining weeks. Budapest Honved must regroup if they wish to avoid another year outside the top flight, their margin for error suddenly thinner. Kozarmisleny, galvanized by an afternoon when everything aligned, look to scramble out of peril and, perhaps, continue frustrating the league’s hierarchy.
On this day, at least, Kozármisleny Stadion belonged to the strugglers—who left it, for once, with a reason to believe.