Kisvarda FC vs Zemplín Michalovce

The 10 goals shared between the two sides made this the highest-scoring match in their brief head-to-head history, which dates back to 2024. The first half alone produced seven goals, with the Hungarian hosts leading 4-3 at the break in a frantic opening 45 minutes. However, Michalovce responded emphatically after the interval, scoring three unanswered goals to flip the match entirely.

Both teams used the fixture as part of their pre-season preparations — Kisvárda for the upcoming Hungarian NB I season, and Zemplín Michalovce for the Slovak Niké Liga campaign.

The half-time scoreline of 4-3 in Kisvárda's favour suggested a back-and-forth contest that the home side were just about managing. But whatever Michalovce head coach said in the dressing room worked. The Slovak visitors returned with renewed defensive organisation and attacking incision, shutting out Kisvárda completely in the second half while adding three goals of their own to complete a stunning turnaround.

Specific goal-scorers were not officially published for this friendly fixture, but the Michalovce attack deserves particular credit for netting six times away from home — a statement of intent in their pre-season build-up. The Slovak side's second-half response, scoring three times while keeping a clean sheet after the break, suggests a side building fitness and momentum at the right time.

The half-time score of 4-3 tells the story of a first period with minimal defensive structure from either side — typical of early pre-season friendlies where fitness and experimentation take priority over tactical rigidity. The fact that Kisvárda scored four but still trailed the overall contest after 90 minutes highlights a critical drop-off: they failed to register a single goal after the break. Michalovce's second-half shutout, in contrast, shows they adjusted better after the interval.

For Kisvárda (NB I), the result is a wake-up call ahead of their competitive season. They had opened their pre-season with three wins from four (including a 5-0 thrashing of Tatran Prešov and a 1-0 win over Kazincbarcika) before a narrow 1-0 loss to Bukovyna on 15 July. This 6-4 defeat is their second consecutive loss in pre-season.

For Zemplín Michalovce (Niké Liga), the victory is a significant morale boost. They had lost three of their previous four friendlies (4-0 to Korona Kielce, 2-1 to MFK Karviná, and 1-0 to Kisvárda in an earlier meeting on the same day according to some records), with only a 1-1 draw against Bukovyna on 11 July as a positive result. This 6-4 win — their first victory of the pre-season — provides valuable momentum.

A chaotic, thoroughly entertaining pre-season friendly that told us more about the fitness and experimentation phase both clubs are in than about their competitive prospects. Michalovce's second-half response was the standout takeaway — real resilience from a side that had struggled for results in pre-season. Kisvárda will need to tighten up defensively if they are to avoid similar collapses when the competitive action begins.