Zalaegerszegi TE FC eliminated ETO FC Győr from the MOL Magyar Cup with a 3–1 victory at the ZTE Aréna on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Nemzeti Sport reported. Playing before 2,238 spectators under referee Gergő Bogár, the home side secured a spot in the round of 16 of the domestic cup competition.

Lucas Alfonso Breaks Deadlock in First Half

The match began with early pressure from the visitors, as Győr hit the crossbar straight from an opening corner kick that drifted past the endline. Both teams fielded heavily altered starting lineups while stating pre-match intentions to advance in the tournament. Play settled into a cagey, even rhythm through the opening fifteen minutes, interrupted only when Győr goalkeeper Balázs Megyeri misplaced an outlet pass before recovering quickly to clear his lines.

The first serious breakthrough came in the 30th minute. Lucas Alfonso collected the ball during a fluid attacking sequence and unleashed a curling left-footed strike from 20 meters out that flew straight into the top left corner. The opening goal raised the tempo for both sides, though neither goalkeeper faced severe danger before the halftime whistle, aside from routine collections by ZTE goalkeeper Bence Gundel-Takács.

Late Drama and Bizarre Own Goal Seal ETO’s Exit

Győr pressed forward with greater urgency after the interval, establishing territorial control and forcing the hosts onto the back foot. Following a close call in the 62nd minute when a short backpass from Bence Kiss nearly handed Győr an opening, substitute Kevin Bánáti leveled the score in the 75th minute by heading in from close range after a well-constructed move.

ZTE responded immediately by introducing more experienced personnel. In the 83rd minute, the hosts regained the lead following a multi-player aerial buildup: Amato headed the ball to Emin Kujovic on the left flank, who nodded it across to Thiago Penalba for a close-range header into the right corner. In stoppage time, with Győr fully committed to attack, a rapid counterattack led by Danilo Krevszun ended with Claudiu Bumba attempting a desperate clearance backpass from 16 meters out. The ball rolled past advancing goalkeeper Balázs Megyeri and into the net for an own goal, securing the 3–1 final scoreline, according to 24.hu reporting.

Coaches Assess the Cup Elimination

ZTE head coach Filipe Celikkaya praised his team’s performance after the match, noting that Győr respected his squad by fielding their strongest lineup. Nagyon jó mérkőzés volt, megérdemeltük a győzelmet, Celikkaya told Nemzeti Sport, adding that his players must immediately turn their attention to an upcoming league fixture. M4 Sport noted Celikkaya’s post-match comments emphasizing that his side deserved the advancement against the champion.

Győr head coach Efraín Juárez expressed disappointment over the result, pointing to missed opportunities against the woodwork. Kiélezett mérkőzés volt, többször eltaláltuk a kapufát, a ZTE viszont jobban koncentrált a döntő pillanatokban, Juárez stated to Nemzeti Sport, acknowledging that his team’s ambitions to win the cup competition had ended abruptly.

Tournament Context and Next Fixtures

The MOL Magyar Cup fourth round saw several other top-flight casualties alongside Győr. Kisvárda exited the competition following a 4–2 defeat away to third-tier Pécsi MFC, while NB II leader Soroksár fell 3–2 to Kozármisleny, as detailed by 24.hu. Puskás Akadémia secured a narrow 2–1 victory against Diósgyőr.

The draw for the round of 16 pairings takes place on Thursday evening, with the tournament final scheduled for May 8, 2027, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.