A mediocre first half and a very strong second half. KV Mechelen beat OHL 3-0. Rob Schoofs showed the way for Malinwa with a beautiful goal from distance and an assist. Thanks to this three-pointer, Mechelen comes within three points of AA Gent, which will play later tonight.
For the first time this season, no Coucke in KV Mechelen’s goal. The goalie was injured. And so Vandevoordt, Warleson and Smets remain as players who have not missed a minute this Jupiler Pro League season. Thoelen – his replacement – mainly received long shots in his direction in the first half. Mendyl, Thorsteinsson and Schrijvers tried it. The latter’s attempt was the most dangerous, the leather whizzed just wide.
‘I can do that better,’ Schoofs thought a few minutes after the break. The captain got the ball from about 25 yards and blasted. The leather flew beautifully against the net via the post. His seventh goal of the season. And there are some gems there. Ten minutes later, Schoofs put Bassette on the way to Leysen, the striker made it 2-0. Schoofs didn’t cheer twice. It is and will always be the Europe Play-offs. How he would have loved to shine in the Champions’ Play-offs…
Malinwa did not have to play particularly good football to get that 2-0 lead. There was only one threat before half time. Storm was sent into the lane excellently, the winger decided wide.
Then the second half was of a much higher level. Even after the 2-0, Mechelen continued to press the accelerator. Schoofs and Mrabti completely destroyed the Leuven defense, but the captain kicked Leysen. Hairemans then hit a Leuven leg. Suddenly OHL was there too. Substitute Braut Brunes scored the tying goal, although the line judge had previously noted offside. A correct decision, the VAR confirmed. In the final phase, Mrabti made it 3-0. Leysen first saved the penalty, but an OHL player had closed in too quickly. The Swede did score on the second attempt.
And so Malinwa puts a little pressure on AA Gent. The gap is now three points. The Buffalos will host Westerlo tonight.
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90’+7′
End of second half
90’+5′
Kerim Mrabti is replaced by Jannes Van Hecke
90’+5′
Kerim Mrabti is replaced by Lion Lauberbach
90’+4′
Rob Schoofs is replaced by Lion Lauberbach
90’+4′
Norman Bassette is replaced by Patrick Pflücke
90’+2′
Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson is replaced by Suphanat Mueanta
90’+2′
3-0 GOAL (Penalty) by Kerim Mrabti!
Second time, lucky time for Mrabti. The Swede outsmarts Leysen, 3-0.
89′
Penalty must be kicked again
The penalty kick had to be kicked again because an OHL player had caught up too quickly.
90’+1′
VAR: Penalty confirmed
89′
Leysen takes
Not 3-0. Leysen chooses the right angle and keeps Mrabti from making it 3-0.
86′
Penalty for Malinwa
Banzuzi plants an elbow in Bassette’s face. Van Driessche points to the dot. The entire stadium chants the name of goalkeeper Thoelen. But it’s just Mrabti who will kick.
83′
Final phase
If OHL wants to gain anything here, it must take urgent action. There are still seven minutes, plus some extra time, to score a point.
81′
Siebe Schrijvers is replaced by Kento Misao
81′
Richie Sagrado is replaced by Joren Dom
75′
Yellow card for Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson
75′
Place ball Thorsteinsson
Most of OHL’s danger continues to come from the second line. Now it’s up to Thorsteinsson to try. The place ball goes just wide.
17:28
70′
Mrabti next
Malinwa continues to find space excellently in this second half. Now Mrabti is released on the right, the Swede cuts inside and targets the far corner. The attempt goes wide.
70′
Yellow card for Kerim Mrabti
69′
2-1 disallowed
Suddenly Leuven is there. Substitute Braut Brunes makes it 2-1, but the tying goal is disallowed due to prior offside.
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Tags: Rob Schoofs Mechelen beats Leuven world goal assist captain Jupiler Pro League
