Spišská Nová Ves Dismantle Lipany 5-1, Send Statement in 3. liga - East Title Race
ŠTADIÓN NOVÁ VES — On a brisk October afternoon, with a title-chasing crowd sensing history, Spišská Nová Ves delivered a dazzling performance that will be remembered in eastern Slovakia for seasons to come. Their emphatic 5-1 victory over Lipany was not just a routine win; it was a message, one that echoed across the 3. liga - East table, that the hosts are not only unbeaten but rapidly becoming the team to beat.
The game’s opening moments offered little hint of what was to come. Lipany, a resilient side clinging to fourth in the standings, arrived with intent. Their press was fierce, their runs purposeful. In the early exchanges, both sides traded half-chances, but it was Spišská Nová Ves who struck first. With barely 15 minutes elapsed, forward Ján Škuta broke the deadlock, drilling a low shot past the outstretched arm of Lipany’s goalkeeper after a clever interchange on the edge of the area.
That initial breakthrough set the pattern for the afternoon. The home side, buoyed by their vocal supporters and a glistening home record, seized control of the midfield. By the 27th minute, the hosts doubled their lead, this time through Marek Hruška. A sweeping move down the left resulted in a pinpoint cross, and Hruška made no mistake, heading home from close range.
Lipany, stunned and reeling, searched for a foothold. For a brief spell, they found one, pulling a goal back in the 39th minute through Tomáš Duda. A moment of defensive hesitation allowed Duda to pounce, spinning and firing into the top corner to halve the deficit. At 2-1, with halftime approaching, the visitors sensed an opening.
But just as Lipany threatened to claw their way back, Spišská Nová Ves responded ruthlessly. Mere minutes later, on the cusp of halftime, Matúš Kováč restored the two-goal cushion, slotting home after a sweeping counterattack exposed gaps in the Lipany back line. The timing of the third goal was as punishing as the finish itself, and the halftime whistle was greeted with a roar from the home terraces, the scoreboard gleaming: 3-1.
The second half saw Lipany’s hopes unravel. Any designs on a comeback were quickly dashed by David Špak’s spectacular free kick in the 53rd minute, his curling effort leaving the goalkeeper rooted, and all but sealing the contest. The visitors’ frustration began boiling over, culminating in a red card for Lipany midfielder Patrik Novák after a rash challenge in the 65th minute—an incident that effectively closed the door on any remaining Lipany ambitions.
With the match drifting, Spišská Nová Ves pressed their advantage, never satisfied to simply see out time. Substitute Filip Urban rounded off the scoring in the 79th minute, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to notch the fifth and final goal. As the final whistle blew, the home side’s players embraced at midfield, delighting in both the margin and the manner of their triumph.
For Spišská Nová Ves, this was more than three points. The win keeps them firmly in second place, just a whisker off the summit with 23 points from nine unbeaten matches (7 wins, 2 draws)—a record that has galvanized belief among supporters that this campaign could be special. Their imperious home form, combined with a defense that has conceded just three goals in their last five outings, hints at a side hitting top gear as the autumn stretch arrives.
Lipany, meanwhile, remain on 16 points, still inside the top four but searching for answers. Today’s defeat was their heaviest of the season, and while they showed flashes of attacking promise, vulnerability at the back and indiscipline proved costly. It was a stark reversal for a team that, until today, had forged its own strong start, with wins over Vranov nad Topľou and Kežmarok still fresh in the memory.
The head-to-head history between these sides has often been closely contested, but after today’s display, a new chapter is written—one where Spišská Nová Ves assert themselves as genuine title contenders, while Lipany must regroup to avoid letting a promising start slip away.
Looking ahead, both teams face defining weeks. For the victors, the challenge will be to sustain momentum, translating this attacking verve into consistent performances as winter beckons. For Lipany, the task is one of resilience: rediscovering their defensive organization and temperament, lest the gap to the league’s summit grow insurmountable.
On a day when ambitions were measured in goals, spirit, and statement, Spišská Nová Ves put the rest of the league on notice. In the shadow of Štadión Nová Ves, the race for promotion just gained a frontrunner—and it wears blue and white.