Union takes its first prize in 89 years with the Belgian Cup against disappointing Antwerp

Union

Antwerp

24′ – Yellow – Mohamed Amoura
30′ – Yellow – Eliot Matazo
45+1′ – Goal – Koki Machida (1 – 0)

55′ – Yellow – Vincent Janssen
68′ – Yellow – Christian Burgess
73′ – Cont. Gyrano Church by Chidera Ejuke
73′ – Cont. Ritchie De Laet by Jelle Bataille
73′ – Cont. Eliot Matazo by Alhassan Yusuf
81′ – Cont. Loic Lapoussin by Ross Sykes
81′ – Cont. Gustaf Nilsson by Kevin Rodríguez
84′ – Cont. Mathias Rasmussen by Noah Sadiki
86′ – Cont. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp by George Ilenikhena
86′ – Cont. Owen Wijndal by Soumaïla Coulibaly
88′ – Yellow – Zeno Van Den Bosch
90′ – Yellow – Alessio Castro-Montes
90+1′ – Yellow – Anthony Moris
90+6′ – Cont. Mohamed Amoura by Lazare Amani

Croky Cup – matchday 1 – 09/05/24 – 15:30

time	icon	player	homeTime	homeIcon	homePlayer	score	awayPlayer	awayIcon	awayTime
45+1′		Koki Machida	45+1′		Koki Machida	1 – 0

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise has won its long-awaited top prize. 89 years after the last trophy, the Belgian Cup can now be added to the list of achievements. In a closed final, a goal from Machida was enough for the people of Brussels to beat a much too weak Antwerp. It will be a bad ending for the Great Old and coach Mark van Bommel.

Union – Antwerp in a nutshell:

Key moment: Antwerp can’t find any openings, until Burgess suddenly loses the ball in his own box ten minutes before the end. Out of nowhere, Ekkelenkamp gets a huge chance to score an equalizer, but decides on Moris from an acute angle.
Man of the match: Koki Machida gets a special place in Union history books. His goal proved to be enough to give the Brussels club the Belgian Cup for the third time, more than a century after the previous cup win in 1914. The first prize since the national title in 1935.
Remarkable: It has been more than a year since Antwerp was able to beat Union again. In the last six head-to-head confrontations, Union remained undefeated against The Great Old. The last three matches even yielded three victories for Union.

Ekkelenkamp hits the post, Machida scores just before half-time

After more than 110 years, Union was once again in the cup final, for Antwerp it was the third time in the past five years. The fans of both teams created a thrilling atmosphere in the King Baudouin Stadium, but were treated to a hell of a first half.

Both teams opted for risk-free football. Lots of battles and duels, little to no opportunities. Union clearly had the upper hand with 75 percent of ball possession, but could do little with it. Lammens was not tested.

Moris also watched idly on the other side. Halfway through the first half it was quite a shock for the Union goalkeeper when Ekkelenkamp suddenly took a shot from outside the sixteen. His low blast licked the outside of the post.

A 0-0 halftime score seemed a certainty, until Union struck on a corner kick in extra time. Van den Bosch headed the ball unluckily at the first post and Machida reacted very alertly. The Japanese left Lammens without a chance, the Union supporters screamed.

Unemployed Antwerp is left empty-handed

The second half started explosively with fireworks from some Antwerp fans. A sad spectacle, which unfortunately also continued on the field. Antwerp tried to chase the equalizer, but could not force any openings.

Moreover, Antwerp had to watch out for Union counters. Fifteen minutes before the end, Lapoussin Nilsson suddenly presented an excellent chance to make it 2-0, but the Swede headed over from close range.

Union did not encounter any problems until Burgess made a mistake in the box ten minutes before the end. He let Ekkelenkamp steal the ball from the back line, but he aimed at Moris from an acute angle. Antwerp never came closer to the equalizer.

On the contrary, in the closing minutes both Puertas and Amoura missed an excellent opportunity to decide the final definitively. Misses without consequence, because Union no longer gave up the win.

After 89 years, the long-awaited prize has been won for the Brussels club and the title is still possible. Antwerp remains empty-handed after last season’s double.

Phase by phase

UNION WINS THE CUP!

Union has finally won its long-awaited prize! After 110 years of waiting, it wins the Belgian Cup again, for the third time in club history. Finally another trophy for the Brussels club after the national title in 1935. A goal from Machida shortly before half-time was enough to beat an offensively underpowered Antwerp. After last season’s double, The Great Old is left empty-handed, possibly even missing out on European football. Union, on the other hand, can continue to dream of the double.

Amoura drops the 2-0!

Amoura can remove all doubts. He wins the duel with Van den Bosch and can only attack Lammens, but still aims the ball wide. Big miss, the tension remains!

We are halfway through the 6 minutes of extra time. Is it still possible for Antwerp?

Amoura leaves it on the counter, not 2-0

It is a bit of a match of powerlessness in Antwerp.

Peter Vandenbempt

Ejuke does not use free kick

Castro-Montes is still facing a yellow card for a foul on Ejuke. He then takes the free kick, but does not get his shot within the frame. Another opportunity wasted for Antwerp.

An extra 6 minutes will be added.

Lammens keeps Puertas from making it 2-0

Lammens keeps Puertas from making it 2-0!

Puertas almost puts the final in a decisive fold! He is launched well into the box and goes for his own success from an acute angle, but Lammens saves Antwerp. Playing to Amoura in front of goal might have been a better choice.