The Hungarian outsiders taking on Budapest’s big boys
A freezing February night in Budapest. European evergreens Ujpest have just netted a sublime free-kick on the final whistle to win a bitterly cold Hungarian Cup tie at the death. Having chased shadows for most of the game, the players in lilac run towards the raucous home end. Having been defeated in such heart-breaking fashion, their opponents Kisvarda would have been forgiven for disappearing from the pitch to grab a warm and welcome shower, and catch the long bus back to a distant corner of Hungary.
Not a bit of it. Even with no away fans to play up to, Kisvarda coach Gabor Eros arranges his men in a post-match huddle right out on the Ujpest pitch and cajoles them, his words barely heard above the din of rare lilac euphoria.
Three days later, on an even colder night, COVID-hit Kisvarda returned to battle for a 0-0
