KV Kortrijk
KAS Eupen
- 14′ – Yellow – Abdoulaye Sissako
- 16′ – Yellow – Renaud Emond
- 29′ – Red – Boris Lambert
- 45′ – Cont. Renaud Emond by Brandon Baiye
- 45+6′ – Yellow – Isaak Davies
- 45+6′ – Yellow – Aleksandr Filin
- 45+10′ – Goal – João Silva (1 – 0)
- 59′ – Cont. Abdoulaye Sissako by Marco Kana
- 65′ – Cont. Amadou Keita by Kevin Möhwald
- 65′ – Cont. Yentl Van Genechten by Isaac Nuhu
- 69′ – Yellow – Lucas Pirard
- 72′ – Cont. Thierry Ambrose by Felipe Avenatti
- 77′ – Cont. Shayne Pattynama by Jan Král
- 77′ – Cont. Brandon Baiye by Karol Youndje Sihon
- 81′ – Yellow – Karol Youndje Sihon
- 81′ – Yellow – Nayel Mehssatou
- 90+2′ – Cont. Kings Kangwa by Massimo Bruno
Jupiler Pro League – matchday 5 – 05/05/24 – 19:16
| time | icon | player | homeTime | homeIcon | homePlayer | score | awayPlayer | awayIcon | awayTime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45+10′ | João Silva | 45+10′ | João Silva | 1 – 0 |
An extra portion of hope for KV Kortrijk, but the definitive end for Eupen. With a narrow victory, the West Flemish people have taken another major step in their mission to ensure conservation. Joao Silva scored the only goal in the nervous match, in which the visitors played with ten for more than an hour. Due to the defeat, Eupen disappears from the first division after 8 years.
Kortrijk benefits optimally
An all-decisive must-win match for Eupen and the ultimate opportunity for Kortrijk to stay in the running for retention.
The tension was palpable in the Guldenspoorstadion, but there was also nervousness on the field.
It was a long wait for a first chance, the initial phase was characterized by poor passes and a nervous VAR check.
Only after twenty minutes did both teams create a few chances, but barely ten minutes later the match took a completely new turn.
Eupen captain Lambert was late in a tackle on Sissako and was sent off without mercy after a new VAR intervention. The mission for the visitors became even more difficult.
Kortrijk had smelled blood and moved forward more emphatically. On the stroke of half time it was the prize. Captain Silva headed Kadri’s free kick neatly past Slonina.
VAR plays a leading role
After the break, Kortrijk opted to keep the ball and took little initiative. Risky, with an economical lead, but with a tired Eupen there seemed to be no problem.
The home crowd was also celebrating after an hour. Kortrijk came close to 2-0 a few times, including with Kadri and Ambrose, but that second redeeming goal did not come.
And suddenly around the 85th minute it became silent in the Guldenspoorstadion when Charles-Cook was left in the box after a rare counter-attack.
The winger was lightly tapped by Mampassi, enough for Tubize to send referee Verboomen to the screen.
But what everyone in the stadium feared did not happen. Verboomen stuck to his decision and continued playing. Discharge at Kortrijk, upheaval at Eupen.
There were no more big opportunities afterwards. Kortrijk moves into second place in the Play-offs and has everything in its own hands against Charleroi next week. Eupen drops back to 1B after eight seasons.
Phase by phase
END: 1-0
Party in Kortrijk, over & out for Eupen. The visitors disappear from the first division after eight seasons. Kortrijk lives thanks to this economical victory and jumps to second place. Next week they can secure that place in Charleroi.
It’s pumping balls, but with two minutes to go, two goals are almost impossible.
The recently substituted Bruno had the 2-0 at his feet, but Slonina goes flat and pushes his shot out of the corner!
Eupen insists. Palsson aims a shot a meter above the cage.
An extra 6 minutes will be added.
With trembling legs, Kortrijk pushes forward once again. Such a one-goal lead is of course crazy.
No penalty! What an explosion in the stadium and what amazement at Eupen. Verboomen sticks to his position and lets the game continue.
It is suddenly silent in the Guldenspoorstadion. Verboomen should go and take a look!
Penalty?
Charles-Cook flashes the last of his strength into the box and lies down. Mampassi doesn’t hit the ball, but the contact isn’t really heavy either. The VAR looks at the situation.
We’re in the last ten minutes. What else can Eupen do?
KVK was there again. Kadri tests Slonina with a creditable shot. The goalkeeper floats the attempt out of his cage.
At Kortrijk they just pass the ball around. There is no longer much attacking drive, but it is difficult for Eupen to take advantage of that. The team gives a tired impression.
Ambrose moves well with the ball, can take a swing, but sees his shot turned into a corner. It is not the striker’s game for the time being, but he is increasingly weighing on the tired Eupense defense.
Kortrijk makes the ball elusive for the visitors. Eupen gives a resigned impression, although one moment can of course change the game again.
Kadri intercepts the ball and is able to take the ball in one go. His ball flies high over.
Kortrijk presses cautiously, but is also satisfied with the ball possession. Of course, a goal was scored quickly.
After Emond before half-time, Silva now also gets a ball in the face. The captain can continue as normal.
We’ve started it again!
After an argument in the players’ tunnel, Eupen coach Anderssen and Kortrijk’s goalkeeper coach were both sent off. So the T1 takes a seat in the stands.
Halftime: 1-0
Resting in Kortrijk after an eventful first half. Var interventions, a red card and ultimately the lead just before half time. Eupen seems like a bird to a cat.
Kortrijk in the lead!
Now it’s worth it! Kadri swings a nice free kick into the sixteen. Captain Silva heads freely and leaves Slonina no chance.
Kortrijk comes close to taking the lead! A corner kick stays in front of the goal and is just not put into the goal.
Davies and Palsson are not going to be friends tonight. The two make each other’s lives miserable. Davies is fined for a hard pounding on the Icelander.
With all those injury treatments and two VAR phases, we add no less than ten minutes.
An extra 10 minutes will be added.
The striker cannot continue and is replaced by Baiye, an extra fighter in the Eupen midfield.
After injury treatment for Keita, Emond is now also on the field. The striker received a ball hard on the back of the head and is clearly groggy.
KVK is increasing the pressure
With peace in sight, Kortrijk presses the accelerator. Eupen has to limit himself to defending and folds back. Emond is taken down a row and has to work in midfield.
A treacherous cross from De Neve is turned into a corner by Eupen’s leg. The home team then lingers in front of the box for a while, but they cannot create a big chance from that.
Ambrose tries with a spectacular half-volley, but there was not enough venom in his shot to surprise Slonina.
Eupen with 10!
The Guldenspoorstadion bounces back, because Verboomen changes his yellow cardboard into a red one. Lambert can already take a shower. A strict decision.
Red card?
Lambert arrived just too late in a duel with Sissako. Verboomen is given a yellow card, but is called to the VAR screen.
There was the home team again. After a pinball moment, Ambrose sees his shot turned into a corner.
It is clear that KVK is in two minds. Regardless of this result, they still have a (water) chance next week. For Eupen it is all or nothing. The visitors play with more courage.
Kortrijk is gradually creeping forward. For the time being, they still lack a clean final pass to really disrupt Eupen. The visitors are lurking on the counter.
Ambrose can cross quickly, but has an argument with the ball. Ultimately, Emond takes him down incorrectly and kicks the ball far away after the whistle. The striker will receive a yellow card.
It is the visitors who pose the most threat. Charles-Cook tries twice with a shot.
The game is not (yet) streamlined. It’s clear there’s a lot at stake.
No penalty, because at Eupen they were already offside before the handball was noticed. The stadium breathes again.
Immediately a moment of stress for the home team. Mehssatou gets the ball in his hand through his leg. The VAR looks at it for minutes.
Kick-off has been given
Nathan Verboomen whistles to get the match started!
It was an easy week because everyone knows what to do: win.
Kristoffer Andersen (trainer Eupen)
Eupen’s setup. Emond and Keita join the team for Nuhu and Baiye.
Click here to still allow this
The home team has to make do with these eleven.
Related posts
