Union is back: Brussels residents shake off 0 out of 12 with a convincing win against Antwerp and are still in contention for the title

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” It is those famous words of the American basketball legend Michael Jordan that had to put Union back on the right path against Antwerp after the painful zero out of twelve.

Cameron Puertas had understood the message that coach Alexander Blessin had shown in the locker room this week. The Spanish Swiss always goes to great lengths and decisively delivered the top match against Antwerp with a flash of class. Just like on Sunday against Club Brugge, he fired a free kick into the goal in one go. Although Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens could and should have had the ball, but that will be a problem for Union. The people of Brussels needed this goal. Especially after Club Brugge and Anderlecht were further ahead on Wednesday evening.

Duo Amoura-Puertas

The pressure before the start of the match against number five Antwerp – which is also out of form – was sky-high for Union, but the first lead for Blessin’s troops in these play-offs freed the people of Brussels. Before the 0-1 just after half-time, the match actually had little to do – it was absolutely no spectacle. Antwerp didn’t get a chance to play football together and Union also barely got into the Great Old’s sixteen. Only a shot from Mathias Rasmussen could embarrass Lammens. The rest wasn’t even worth mentioning, we’ll spare you.

But Puertas’ goal did give Blessin’s team momentum again. Less than ten minutes later, Mohamed Amoura was actually there with his first goal of these play-offs. Suddenly the Algerian had regained his finishing skills from the regular competition. After a perfect assist from Puertas, Amoura charged alone at Lammens. The fast striker did not hesitate for a second this time and scored the reassuring 0-2. Union could breathe a sigh of relief, the title dream is still alive. The tensions around the club can calm down again. Puertas further strengthened the victory in the end by making it 0-3.

The dream of Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel, on the other hand, suffered a major and perhaps insurmountable blow. Van Bommel still believed in the title before the match, but he is gradually putting that dream aside. However? At no point did his team claim victory against Union and the deficit to competition leader Anderlecht is already twelve points, with six games to go.

Moris serenaded

There were more positive points for Union than just the three points. The Puertas-Amoura duo played football on another planet at times during the regular competition, but have excelled in inefficiency in recent weeks. It is their enormous quality that Union has been missing, but which is now back. The duo found each other against Antwerp at crucial moments in the match and Union has also improved at the back since Mac Allister has returned from injury.

Photo: Isosport

Another boost was that goalkeeper Anthony Moris did not make a mistake this time, although it obviously says a lot that this is included in our report. Both about the match, which -once again- amounted to little, and about Moris’s past weeks. They weren’t great at all. However, the club continued to support him. The fact that he was serenaded by the Union crowd when he crossed the field during half-time to visit the dressing room will undoubtedly please the Luxembourger. Nice gesture from the visiting fans.

It may be a bit early to say after one win, but still…Union seems to be back and not a moment too soon. The people of Brussels were also not down in recent matches, but as mentioned, efficiency was lacking in both large rectangles. With the convincing victory, Union can leave zero out of twelve against Antwerp. The people of Brussels are still participating in the title battle, Antwerp now has to look at the places of honour.