MTK - Ferencváros F.C., 19/10/1924

ORTH'S BEST GAME MTK—FTC, 11:2 (4:1)

The greatest result in the derby — MTK leading the Bajnokság — Ferencváros did what MLSZ used to do — György Orth, the epitome of what a player can do — Ferenc Gerő, one of the focus of the match — József Braun out for some weeks?

Another match between the two then main powers of Hungarian football. In that context, the championship was still beginning, and Ferencváros and MTK faced each other right at the beginning. Both teams had won two matches and drawn one. However, the context inserted for the classic was pointing to the MTK side, as the Ferencváros team had several tactical problems and, mainly, in terms of human material.

In addition to the Ferencváros team being completely lacking in almost every possible characteristic of the Association, the team had its main goalkeeper, Ignác Amsel — who was still a doubt for the match — , still sick, as he had spent a good amount of time in bed. Furthermore, the composition of full-backs in Ruprich and Jancsár was a complete test against MTK's very high quality advances. ATTACK AGAINST DEFENSE?

The main clash would be between MTK's forward line and Ferencváros' defense line, but it was not the clash that Ferencváros' supporters would like. However, it is worth mentioning that the offensive line was not 100% in its qualities, as Molnár and Braun were not in their prime form. Opata would be placed as inside left and Jeny had just recovered from an injury against Újpest. As for Orth, a chronicler writes the following:

— Orth's form, which is rising week by week, is beginning to reveal a rich treasure trove of lost skills. His relaxed living conditions mean that he gives himself over completely to the game and, like a true artist who enjoys working and creating, he guides his brush across the canvas of the game. In recent matches we have seen Orth at his best, a driving force and a vital element in the Blue and White attack, and he is rightly confident as he takes his path as the most perfect centre-forward.

Theoretically speaking, yes; all-around Zoltán Opata was supposed to be a breakthrough-player, thus receiving constant passes from Orth. Consequently, MTK's offensive line would be as follows: Braun, Molnár, Orth, Opata, Jeny.

Even before MTK took the field, the mood in the locker room was completely right, ambitious and even vindictive. The words, the certainty of MTK players to win was notorious. On the FTC side, the team arrives on the field not with the same determination, but with hope, in addition to some players claiming victory for the visiting team. However, only Amsel, who was sick, didn't seem to have the same will as his teammates — which is completely valid given his condition.

Budapest, I. osztály, 4th match: 19/10/1924, Sunday 15:00. MTK — Ferencváros T.C. 11:2 (4:1) Place: Hungária-ut pálya (Budapest) — Referee: Ferenc Gerő(Budapest). Attendance: about 20.000. MTK Coach: Béla Takács. XI: Kropacsek — Mándi, Senkey I. — Nyúl I.(c), Nyúl II., Nádler — Braun, Molnár, Orth, Opata, Jeny. Ferencváros T.C. Coach: Sándor Bródy. XI: Amsel — Ruprich, Jancsár — Furmann, Blum(c), Matkovich — Héger, Sándor, Steczovits, Szalai, Kohut. Goals: Orth(5, 4min; 12min; 47min; 62min; 88min), Molnár(3, 26min; 34min; 85min), Opata(61min), Jeny(65min) and Mándi(69min[penalty]) — Kohut(40min[penalty]) and Héger(84min). In the 4th minute the inside trio pushes up to the FTC goal with a mechanical all-out play. Orth passes to Molnár, who passes back to Orth, who has found himself in the left-back position, Orth outwits Rupricht and scores the leading goal with a huge flat corner shot. 1:0. 12th minute: while Ruprich runs onto it, but Orth puts the ball he has left after the collision past Amsel before Jancsár can intervene. 2:0. Orth's beautiful release is blocked by Jancsar, then in the 26th minute Orth's ideal release is run down by Jeny, who makes a run, but the incoming belsok is ready to change his mind, he passes the ball flat, Orth leaves it to Molnár, who scores without hesitation. 3:0. In the 34th minute, Opata's ball is headed by Molnár from almost half-court and he works his way through Rupricht and Jancsar, while he is held up three times, but he clutches the ball each time and Amsel watches helplessly as he shoots the ball past him into the goal. 4:0. In the 37th minute, Kohut leads the attack, engages in a combat with Mándi, during which the latter makes a handball inside the penalty area. Kohut shoots and scores. 4:1. In the 48th minute, Orth has the ball again, he tricks Jancsár and leads the ball alone towards Amsel, when Amsel runs out, Orth directs the ball exactly at the goal after deceptive shooting movements, which bounces off the left goalpost into the net. 5:1. In the 61st minute, Orth bursts out, misses the ball with his right foot at the moment of the shot, catches the ball after getting away from Jancsár, passes to Jeny, who turns back and crosses with his right foot, Opata stops the ball with his chest, breaks out and scores an unsaveable goal from close range with a sharp shot. 6:1. In the 62nd minute, Opata plays the pass back to Orth, who scores an indefensible goal with a twisted shot. 7:1. In the 65th minute, the latter of the Nádler-Orth-Jeny action with a great dribble leaves Fuhrman running as fast as an arrow and brings MTK to the next goal with a flatshot sent from the corner of the area. 8:1. 69th minute: Braun was in a goal-scoring position and got hit by Jancsár. The right wingers collapses and is taken off the pitch. The referee gives a penalty to MTK, Mándi shot and converted into a goal. 9:1. In the 84th minute, Héger runs and his long shot hits the net from the left post. 9:2. As soon as the game restarts, Orth passes the ball to Molnár, and the inside right scores his third goal. 10:2. In the 88th minute, when everyone expected Orth to pass, with lightning-quick individual play, he scores the last goal with a sharp shot. 11:2.

THE MATCH

As much as the match was marked by the brilliant performance of the MTK team, what was also marked – and this on the part of both teams – was the refereeing of Ferenc Gerő, especially in the first half.

As much as MTK had performed a supernatural first half, the team returned for the second half with an even greater spirit of revenge. During the break, they weren't celebrating the exceptional partial result, but discussing what they considered refereeing errors, particularly the penalty that Gerő handed over claiming Mándi had handled the ball with his hand. Ferencváros, on the other hand, were arguing about the battle already lost, the players were arguing about mistakes made defensively and the lack of completion of opportunities by the forwards. The FTC returned for the second half wanting to preserve the result; the MTK sought more.

With an even greater dominance of MTK in the second half, what was seen was a real massacre, the biggest massacre ever carried out in the clashes of these two teams. On the MTK side, some players, such as Nyúl II., Mándi and Opata, came back even better for the second stage. On the FTC side, with every goal that was scored by the home team, the psychological conditions only got worse. In fact, the score was not much higher, as a football match has only 90 minutes of regular time. THE BLUE AND WHITE

Kropacsek did little of his work well. At Héger's goal he miscalculated, thinking the ball was going the wrong way. The Mándi-Senkey pair proved to be the good, reliable duo of old, who tackled a lot, destroying the precariously stitched combination nets of the FTC forwards with sure actions. Their kicks were well directed forward for easy use. Senkey was better in the first half; Gyula Mándi outperformed him in the second half.

In the MTK half-back line, Nyúl II. was the man of the line. With his clever passes, he constantly carried the ball into the forward line. He also was part of the score by planning some goals. Nyúl I. displayed more of a defensive work than the other wing half-back, Nádler, who did not reach his level of technique but his support of the forward line was on point.

Jeny was the only MTK forward who was involved in all the action with great energy from the start and, apart from Orth, he was the main architect of the great success of the blue and white forward line. Looking at the individual performances of the other members of the forward line inspired by Orth's play, Jeny's play deserves praise. He was the one in the forward line who understood Orth's intentions immediately and with his good positioning and quick starts gave Orth the opportunity to get clean balls to him on the wing. In this way Jeny was often in action and most of the time he did his job well. In the first half, when his partner, Opata, had not yet got going, Jeny also played with more reserve. In the second half, however, almost every run had the breakthrough power, which translated into a positive result with his delightful goal.

Opata was initially disappointing. His game lacked the energy he was used to. In the first half, despite Orth stuffing him with better and better balls, he failed to make a single breakthrough and failed to give his partners enough support with his passing. In the second half, however, he found himself supporting Orth and Seny with agility, and his powerful rushes constantly disrupted the FTC's shaky defence, creating many clear-cut situations in front of goal. He also showed his breakthrough power with a fine goal, not least a superb clearance which he finished with a flat header that missed the target.

György Molnár, despite the glory of three goals to his name, did not fully satisfy. His play was rhapsodic. At times he would throw himself into the fray with tremendous vigour, only to slacken and slow down the rush of the right wing with his standing play. Still, Molnár's game was an improvement on his game against Újpest. He adapted better to his partners, especially Orth, and with his good positioning he got himself into excellent scoring positions on several occasions. He scored his first two goals thanks to his imaginative positioning. On the third goal, however, he showed his individual determination, willpower and inventiveness.

The most unsatisfactory member of the forward line was József Braun, whose runs, crosses and shots did not go his way. His undoubted decline was reflected in the loss of his ball security, which had been his most admirable attribute. He had the willpower and determination, and showed that he wanted to play his part in the goal, but he was unable to create situations for himself, and when he did, he ended up with a poor shot. After the match, regarding the collision he had with Jancsár, Braun commented that he would be out for a couple of weeks. ORTH, THE EPITOME

It's not the first time that a tribute to the players in a big match Orth's name comes to the fore. Whenever this unrivalled footballing genius takes to the pitch in full possession of his physical fitness and mental unity, he exerts an almost hypnotic will on his teammates and opponents alike, and compels the crowd to devote most of their attention to him and his game.

Every match in which Orth displays his skills in all their glory is like a stage play in which a god-blessed great actor takes the leading role. The suggestive effect of this great talent so captivates the spectator that he is reduced to an extra, even if he is so young, and has the feeling that everything on the stage is done by a man of great talent, the rest being there only to provide a backdrop and a stage for his artistic performance.

György Orth was the Ermete Novelli, the Sacconi of Sunday's MTK-FTC game. All the big scenes were built on his opening lines, and most of the time he was also the cue.

Orth's great performance must be separated from the circumstances which explain the result of the match. Because what he produced remains of artistic value, even though the opposing defence received the actions of him and the MTK forward line he led with virtually no resistance. Orth's footballing genius stood out precisely in the fact that he saw through the weakness of the opponent's defence in an instant, almost sensed it, and applied not only his own individual actions to it, but also forced his fellow strikers and — one might say — his whole team to exploit this weakness with his suggestive strength.

It is only natural that in the course of this development of attacking work, Orth should have had ample opportunity to show off his unique style and exceptional footballing intelligence. Likewise, every action which he himself carried out and every goal which he completed was as perfect as the preparatory work with which he initiated the goals of his team-mates.

No wonder that the crowd chanted Orth's name at the five most beautiful goals that he himself put into the FTC net, but also took credit for the goals that his fellow strikers scored to seal the FTC's disastrous victory. THE GREEN AND WHITE

Ferencváros' team was already a considerable team below MTK's, as well as having their goalkeeper far from his form and a defensive line that would be tested and out of position and without any synchronization. Clearly the first half was a reflection of Sándor Bródy's poor choices. Furthermore, as MTK kept scoring goals, the team gradually followed its psychological downfall, thus creating even more opportunities for the home team. And when they scored their second goal, right after the restart MTK scored again.

There was no consistency in the forward line, not in the back line, and even the defence did not understand each other. That alone explains the disastrous defeat.

Ferencváros was completely modified for this match, with several footballers playing in different positions, even players who were not even starters in their respective positions. Consequently, a disaster was completely expected from a tactical side. For many experts, this was the worst combination Ferencváros has ever fielded.

In the end, there were only two men left in the entire FTC team: Blum, fighting to his last breath, and Kohut, trying to fight against fate. The others were floundering in the unending barrage of goals.

Of the FTC players, Zoltán Blum should be singled out, considering the circumstances, who fought with heart and soul throughout and it was thanks to him that FTC finally managed to make the result a good one — impressive due to the disaster Ferencváros were. It has been proven that the centre-half position was no longer for him, because although he was a great mechanic, he could still apply his positioning skills. In any case, it is to his credit that against the in-form MTK forward line, his wing half-backs, Fuhrmann and Matkovich, completely quit and he was given more work.

Despite eleven goals conceded, Amsel should be criticized with caution, as he was not up to the task. However, yes, some shots he could have saved. On most occasions, he just watched the balls go in and could do nothing.

Imre Szigeti: A series of bad luck, a lot of reserves and a shaky defence set the tone for the game. Amsel was sick, but he couldn't save the goals that came from close range. The forward line was not very bad, playing very well in the box at times, but with a lot of bad luck. The half-back line made a fatal mistake by being too much in the service of the attack instead of getting into the defence. Thus, MTK's forwards, who were excellently positioned, found themselves facing only the two full-backs most of the time. FTC did not deserve such a defeat.

Alfréd Brüll: Even if our team had played deep below form, Orth's performance today would have been a victory. Orth, who has never produced a game like this before, is the architect of the victory. Orth has always been a master of passing, but today he showed himself to be a truly magnificent centre-forward.

» He kept the game firmly in his hands, but, quite unusually for him, he also broke out on many occasions with individual play, leaving the FTC defence in total uncertainty as to his intentions at the moment.

» MTK were great, yet a win like this was only possible against a dejected FTC. Sure it was ten on ten. We can meet again through ten games before today's victory can be repeated.

Ferenc Gerő: Like everyone else, I was surprised by the result. Despite MTK's dazzling play, they would not have won by such a margin even if the FTC defence had played up to their usual form. FTC's half-back line worked well, led by Blum, who fought tirelessly even after a series of goals. The forward line only occasionally led nice actions. For MTK, it was mainly the forward line that excelled, with only Opata being weak at first, but he was also outstanding in the second half. In the half-back line, Vili Nyul was the best, but the rest of the team was also satisfying.

» I didn't award the penalty that MTK complained about because Ruprich kicked the ball out from under Opata. Opata fell inside the area and so I saw no reason for a penalty. I did not criticise Jancsár for Braun's fouling only because he was impeccably fair throughout the match. However, the penalty for kicking Braun in a goal-scoring position was definitely deserved. In the penalty against MTK, I saw Mandl's handball clearly and had to award the penalty.

Sándor Klement: The championship match was not open. The matches are not decided on the pitch, but at the team formation. The equipment is not the same, we don't have sporting goods, and we went to today's match with a handicap. This is just my brief opinion, but I will be addressing the public in more detail shortly.