Pešić snatches late point for 10-man Ferencváros in Europa League opener

Aleksandar Pešić’s 94th-minute header rescued a dramatic 1-1 draw for 10-man Ferencváros against Viktoria Plzeň in Budapest, ensuring Robbie Keane’s side extended their unbeaten streak in all comps to five games.

The tie had an added edge given these two met in the UEL play-offs just last season, and it was the Czech visitors who came flying out the blocks. Within the first ten minutes, Amar Memić twice found space and tested the nerves of the home support, only to waste both openings. Ferencváros looked sluggish and Plzeň capitalised, opening the scoring when Rafiu Durosinmi latched onto a smart ball from Merchas Doski and drilled a superb strike past Dénes Dibusz from the edge of the area.

That early goal rocked the hosts, though history suggested they’d be tough to crack – unbeaten in seven European home games against Czech opposition going into the clash. They began to see more of the ball but their task became far harder when right-back Cebrail Makreckis was given his marching orders just before the interval. Already on a yellow, he hauled back Matěj Vydra to stop a breakaway, leaving the referee little choice.

With a man advantage, Plzeň looked to put the game beyond reach after half-time. Vydra tried his luck from distance but was denied by Dibusz, before Sampson Dweh narrowly missed the target with a powerful drive. Still, the Hungarian champions carried a punch on the counter. Substitute Bence Ötvös really should have levelled midway through the half but somehow guided his shot wide from six yards when it seemed easier to score.

The game opened up as tired legs set in, and chances arrived for both sides. Plzeň’s best came through Callum O’Dowda, who rose unmarked inside the area but planted his header wide, a miss that would prove costly.

Deep into stoppage time, with Fradi’s unbeaten run seconds from ending, the home fans were sent into raptures. Gavriel Kanichowsky whipped in a delicious cross, and Pešić timed his leap perfectly to glance a header inside the far post. A moment of pure relief, sealing a point that looked unlikely for so long.

For Plzeň, it felt like two points thrown away after controlling much of the game, especially against 10 men. For Ferencváros, though, it was the sort of gutsy comeback that can set the tone for a European campaign.