RateTheRef

Budapest Honvéd 3-0 MTK Budapest
Referee: Pintér Csaba - blue shirt
YC:4; YYR:0; RC:1; Pen:1

Not the most thrilling of first halves. It came alive in injury time for the wrong reasons, Baráth holding Haraszti, Haraszti holding Baráth in a head lock at waist level. Bit of pushing and shoving followed before Haraszti grabbed Baráth around the throat briefly with 1 hand. Correct red card for Haraszti and an equally correct yellow for Baráth. I am still trying to decide if Haraszti was brave or foolish, I love Baráth, he's my favourite thug, I'm surprised Haraszti is still alive!!

2nd half was more lively. Lukic heading Kispest into the lead on 47. MTK hadn’t given up and came close to equalising on 61. Silly trip by Ferreira on 67. saw a penalty to Kispest, VAR upheld the decision. Nagy Dominik putting Kispest 2-0 up. Kispest making the most of the extra man, contentedly kicking the ball to each other while MTK ran around in circles. Lukic put the match to bed in the 90th min with his 2nd and Kispest’s 3rd goal.

Kispest getting stronger as the season progresses and pretty play turning into wins and points. What of MTK though – their knee jerk sacking of Costantino really has come back to bite them. They have been on a downward spiral ever since. He had them playing pretty and disciplined but not always effective, now they have no shape and no discipline and have dropped from a respectable mid table position to 11th. Wonder if they are regretting their knee jerk decision yet…

Pintér Csaba is having a great season. I'd not be surprised if he wins the Ref of the Season award. He's always been a steady and safe pair of hands. Nothing spectacular, just quiet and clam in the background.  He's like Solymosi Péter just not as awesome! Steady reliable ref being steady and reliable! Dealt with the red card incident calmly with no fuss. He stood to the side, waved the rest of the players away before calling Haraszti and Baráth over. He gave Baráth the yellow first, he just shrugged, he expected it. He then showed Haraszti the red. He also knew, shrugged and strolled off the pitch muttering to himself. No dissent he was just peeved with the situation.