Standard and KV Mechelen share the cake after a match without goals

Jupiler Pro League – matchday 5 – 23/04/24 – 20:30

AA Gent has become the big winner of the match between Standard and KV Mechelen in the Europe Play-offs. KV Mechelen lost out in Liège and can be happy that it still grabs a point. Standard is still waiting for a first win in the play-offs.

• Man of the match: Gaëtan Coucke almost single-handedly ensured that Standard missed out on winning. He kept Kanga (2x), Balikwisha and Kawabe from the opening goal and took another clean sheet. Number 11 this season, only Jean Butez and Maarten Vandevoordt do better with 12.
• Key moment: Fifteen minutes before the end, Coucke had to give in. With a nice deviation from a low cross from Djenepo, Kanga seems to be on his way to the 1-0, but Cobbaut is able to save KV Mechelen just before the goal line.
• Remarkable: KV Mechelen clearly does not suit Standard. In the last 9 mutual matches, the Rouches were only able to beat KV Mechelen once and lost 6 times.

In a lackluster first half, only the Standard fans provided fireworks. After 12 minutes of silent protest against the weak results, some home supporters left the gate behind Gaëtan Coucke’s goal. Flares were thrown onto the field, referee Michiel Allaerts had no choice but to temporarily interrupt the match.

Just beforehand, Bassette had scored for KV Mechelen, but his goal was rightly disallowed for offside. Only after half an hour did Standard also come close to scoring. After good work by Yeboah, Kawabe was able to score freely in the box. Weak ball control from the Japanese and a good intervention from Foulon canceled out the chance.

Five minutes later, Balikwisha also had a huge chance. Once again Yeboah was the leader with a nice action, but although Balikwisha had time and space in front of goal, he could not get the ball between the posts.

The best chances remained for Standard. On a corner kick, the ball got stuck on the first post and Kanga was able to take a swing, but Coucke saved KV Mechelen in two moments.

In the second half, KV Mechelen barely featured. Standard was in charge, but failed to capitalize on that dominance. Coucke was more than once the bogeyman for the people of Liège. On the hour mark he made an excellent save on a dangerous long shot from Balikwisha.

Ten minutes later it was Kawabe who came close to making it 1-0 with a clever escape shot, but again the KVM goalkeeper spoiled the fun for Standard with a clever reflex. Even when Kawabe took on the role of declarant and Kanga was allowed to finish from close range, Coucke kept KV Mechelen afloat.

It really wasn’t to be for Standard, because when Coucke was beaten on Kanga’s attempt, Cobbaut saved on the line. Deep into extra time, substitute Perica was also allowed to try it from close range. Coucke’s fingertips prevented a late winning goal.

• Besnik Hasi (coach KV Mechelen): “We were the better team in the first half. Unfortunately, our goal was just offside. In the second half we were still on the ball well for the first ten minutes, but then we stopped playing football. Standard then had the better team. opportunities and deserved to win in the end. It had been a while since we were able to keep a clean sheet at the back. We had a hard time with that “Our substitutions no longer worked, we no longer got into our game. This does not change our ambitions, because we will play at home after that.”
• Ivan Leko (coach Standard): “We deserved more today. We were the better team, with more chances, better football and more energy. Moreover, against a strong team, one of the best in 2024. Especially in the second half we deserved more, it’s a shame we didn’t We have already shown in several matches against strong teams that we can handle anyone if we are at 100 percent. I cannot fault the boys, they gave a lot and created a lot also faster. On the one hand it is a shame that we are not winning again, on the other hand we have not lost four games now.”

Phase by phase

End

Fourth draw in a row for Standard in these Europe Play-offs. Based on the chances, the people of Liège deserved a victory against a small KV Mechelen, but some excellent saves from Coucke and a crucial intervention from Cobbaut on the goal line decided otherwise. KV Mechelen sees KAA Gent, which took the full spoils from STVV, lead to 6 points.

Coucke with the fingertips!

Standard comes close to winning at the end of extra time. Sowah brings the ball well in front of goal from the left and Perica tries it in one go at the first post. Coucke can just work the ball into a corner with his fingertips.

In fact, another switch from the visitors and it results in a corner kick. It no longer leads to an opportunity.

The extra time is almost over. Standard once again goes all out. Will KV Mechelen hold out?

Yellow for Bolingoli

After Walsh, Bolingoli is now also receiving a yellow card. Coming in and getting yellow, Hasi won’t like to see that happen.

Mrabti can rest. He is replaced by Bafdili. Foulon is also taken to the side, Bolingoli is allowed to complete the final phase.

Exit for Mrabti?

Mrabti can no longer continue, he has to deal with cramps. That’s how it seems. Leko takes advantage of the delay to bring Perica into the team for Yeboah.

Time is slowly running out for Standard, if it wants to book its first win in the Europe Play-offs tonight. KAA Gent is the smiling third for the time being, while visiting STVV it is still on course for a new three-pointer.

Yellow for Walsh

Only now referee Michiel Allaerts shows his first yellow card of the match. She is for Sandy Walsh, of all people, a player who has only just stepped onto the field.

Cobbaut saves on the line!

The ball just won’t go in for Standard. After a few steps, Djenepo brings the ball low. Kanga deflects the cross at the near post into the goal in no time. Coucke has been beaten, but Cobbaut saves KV Mechelen on the line.