Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
FC Koper scored three goals in five second-half minutes to beat MTK Budapest 3-1 in a pre-season friendly, with Brown Irabor scoring twice to cancel out Hinora's first-half lob.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
MTK started brightly in Ljubljana. In the 13th minute, Hinora fed Átrok on the right, who cut inside and curled a shot just wide of the far post. The breakthrough came in the 24th minute: Nyers pressured Baš into a poor clearance, the ball fell to Hinora, and the midfielder lifted it into the empty net from 40 metres — a goal of genuine pre-season quality.
Koper created little in the first half. MTK's shape, with Kata and Zeljković screening the back four, kept the Slovenian side at arm's length. Demjén in the MTK goal was not tested before the break.
Koper head coach made multiple changes at half-time, introducing fresh legs including Kamil Manseri and Brown Irabor. The impact was immediate. In the 62nd minute, Manseri collected the ball 17 metres out, shifted it onto his left foot and drove it into the bottom-left corner. One minute later, a defensive lapse allowed Irabor to bundle the ball home from close range. The Nigerian striker made it 3-1 in the 67th minute, converting a right-wing cross to complete a six-minute hat-trick of sorts (two goals, one assist from Manseri).
MTK pushed forward in the final 20 minutes — Jádi replaced Átrok in the 75th minute — but clear chances were scarce. The match finished 3-1.
The turning point
Koper's half-time reshuffle changed the game. The introduction of Manseri and Irabor gave the attack a different dimension, and the two combined to score or assist all three goals. MTK, who had controlled the first half, could not cope with the increased tempo after the break. The three goals in a five-minute window (63', 64', 68') left no time to regroup.
Key performers
Brown Irabor (Koper) — The 22-year-old Nigerian forward scored twice (64', 68') and was the decisive figure in Koper's second-half surge. His movement off the shoulder of the last defender caused constant problems after his introduction. (Player of the match)
Kamil Manseri (Koper) — Scored the equaliser and created the momentum for the turnaround. His left-footed finish from 17 metres was the trigger. The French attacker has now scored in two consecutive friendlies for Koper (also against Dinamo Zagreb on 8 July).
Krisztián Hinora (MTK Budapest) — Scored a superb 40-metre lob for MTK's opener and was the most dangerous player in the first half. His influence waned after the interval as Koper took control of midfield.
Adrian Zeljković (MTK Budapest) — The Slovenian international played the full 90 minutes against his compatriots. Solid in the holding role but unable to prevent Koper's midfield from overrunning MTK in the decisive second-half period.
By the numbers — interpreted
The scoreline (1-3) suggests a comfortable Koper win, but it was a game of two distinct halves. MTK led 1-0 at the break and had controlled possession and territory. Koper had zero clear chances before the interval. The second half was a complete reversal: three goals in five minutes from a side that had been second-best for 45 minutes. The raw shot count (not available from the provider) would likely show Koper's efficiency — few chances, but every one converted. This was a game decided by a single half-time tactical adjustment, not by 90 minutes of superiority.
What it means
Koper, runners-up in the Slovenian PrvaLiga last season, completed their pre-season programme with a fourth win from six friendlies. They begin their league campaign on 17 July away to Nafta Lendava and will enter UEFA Conference League qualifying later in July. The turnaround suggests they are approaching competitive sharpness.
MTK Budapest, preparing for the 2026/27 OTP Bank Liga season, finished their Slovenian training camp with two defeats on the same day — a 0-4 loss to Ukrainian side LNZ Cherkasy earlier on 11 July, followed by this 1-3 reverse. Head coach Máté Pinezits will have concerns about the defensive concentration that conceded seven goals across two matches. MTK open their league season at home to ZTE FC on 25 July.
Verdict
A tale of two halves. MTK were the better side for 45 minutes and deserved their lead. But Koper's half-time changes exposed a fragility in the Hungarian side's organisation that has now cost them seven goals in two matches on the same day. For Koper, Irabor's double and Manseri's continued form are encouraging signs ahead of their league kick-off.
Match Events
Key match events between MTK Budapest and Koper — 4 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2020
MTK Budapest vs Koper Head to Head Results· 1
MTK Budapest and Koper have met 1 times — MTK Budapest won 1, Koper won 0, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2020. MTK Budapest leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 3 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.00 per match (2 for the home side, 1 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 1–2 in 2020.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 15 Jul 2026