Union is completely revived after a vital (and big) first win in the play-offs against Antwerp

Antwerp

Union

16′ – Yellow – Mohamed Amoura
20′ – Yellow – Kevin Mac Allister
36′ – Yellow – Mathias Rasmussen

48′ – Yellow – Toby Alderweireld
48′ – Free kick goal – Cameron Puertas (0 – 1)
56′ – Cont. Eliot Matazo by Jacob Ondrejka
56′ – Goal – Mohamed Amoura (0 – 2)
58′ – Yellow – Jelle Bataille
70′ – Yellow – Mandela Keita
73′ – Cont. Owen Wijndal by Ritchie De Laet
73′ – Cont. Jelle Bataille by Soumaïla Coulibaly
73′ – Cont. Mandela Keita by Alhassan Yusuf
75′ – Cont. Henok Teklab by Noah Sadiki
84′ – Cont. Gustaf Nilsson by Kevin Rodríguez
84′ – Cont. Mathias Rasmussen by Lazare Amani
84′ – Yellow – Alessio Castro-Montes
87′ – Goal – Cameron Puertas (0 – 3)
89′ – Cont. Mohamed Amoura by Dennis Eckert Ayensa

Jupiler Pro League – matchday 5 – 25/04/24 – 20:30

time	player	score	awayPlayer	awayTime
48′	Cameron Puertas	0 – 1	Cameron Puertas	48′
56′	Mohamed Amoura	0 – 2	Mohamed Amoura	56′
87′	Cameron Puertas	0 – 3	Cameron Puertas	87′

Is Union back? On a visit to Antwerp, the people of Brussels achieved victory with renewed hope in the title battle. After four defeats in a row, a 0-3 statement followed at the Bosuil. After a lackluster first half, Puertas provided the turning point with a wonderful free kick. Union thus remains in the wake of Anderlecht and Club Brugge.

Antwerp – Union in a nutshell:

Key moment: Cameron Puertas broke the game open with a fantastic free kick two minutes into the second half. The playmaker surprised Antwerp keeper Lammens, who anticipated a cross and was seen in his short corner. Union never relinquished the match after that.

Man of the match: Cameron Puertas woke up in the second half and guided his team to a satisfying three-pointer like a real playmaker. With 2 goals, including a fantastic free kick, and 1 assist, he was the absolute star.

Statistics: One shot on target. That is the poor report from Antwerp. A telling statistic for The Great Old’s match. They had most of the ball, but didn’t actually do anything with it. Food for thought for coach Mark van Bommel.

“Montrez que vous en avez”

That was the clear message from the Union supporters to their players. Loosely translated: “Show that you have what it takes.”

Most Unionists probably had not read the banner, because the Tawny Owl saw a sobering first half.

Antwerp claimed possession of the ball after a study round, but did very little with it. Union defended sharply and did not give away any chances, but did not create anything themselves. Above all, it didn’t seem to want to concede a goal.

Two shots on target. That was the poor report after 45 minutes. Referee Laforge had enough and sent the players inside.

Not a minute too soon, it was mainly time to recharge in the dressing room.

Magisterial Puertas gets it over the line for Union

Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel wanted to send a shock through his team and threw young George to the lions.

Yet it was Union that woke up the Bosuil: Cameron Puertas surprised Antwerp goalkeeper Lammens with a masterful free kick. While Lammens was already anticipating a cross, Puertas kicked the ball straight into the short corner.

0-1 for the people of Brussels, the match seemed to be broken open.

Moments later, Puertas cleverly sent Amoura’s spearhead deep. The fast Algerian did not fail face to face with Lammens. In 7 seven crazy minutes the score was suddenly 0-2.

Antwerp was shaken and could not make a stand against an adult Union. Substitute Ondrejka was only able to score the first Antwerp ball between the posts in minute 63. A telling statistic for their match.

The death blow came three minutes before the final whistle. Puertas – again he – coolly finished it at the penalty point and put the icing on the cake.

0-3 and booking. A pallid performance from the national champion.

There are many players in the Union camp who were able to leave the field with a boost. Puertas was the director again, Moris will breathe a sigh of relief with finally another clean sheet.

The people of Brussels revived their title dream with a deserved first three-pointer. Is the train finally back on the rails?

Reactions after Antwerp – Union:

Cameron Puertas (Union): “All the frustration of the past few weeks has disappeared. It’s the little details that make the difference, today everything went well. It’s never too late in the Play-offs, everything is still possible. We have finally launched.”

Owen Wijndal (Antwerp): “It wasn’t good enough today. We don’t create enough, then you lose. We made too many mistakes with the ball. In the first half Union couldn’t create many chances, but we made it difficult for ourselves after the 0- 1. But of course we are not giving up, we are taking it game by game. The cup final is of course also in our minds, that is our priority on Sunday. We have to show that we can win against Union.”

Alexander Blessin (coach Union): “After these terrible weeks with a lot of negativity, we can finally focus on football again. The first fifteen minutes were not good for us, we lost every second ball. We slowly gained more intensity in our game. It is of course grateful that you the match can open up through a stagnant phase. That lead gave us more confidence. We are very happy with these three points, but it remains only three points.”

Mark van Bommel (coach Antwerp): “These are three well-deserved points for Union. The technical execution on our side was below par, which is why we didn’t get into the box. It has nothing to do with not working, but that’s what it looks like. Almost no one was at the same level. Moments like the free kick are disappointing, and then it becomes difficult of course.”

Phase by phase

End

Could it still be possible for Union? The people of Brussels finally revive their title dream with a satisfying first victory in the Champions’ Play-offs on the field of Antwerp. With a very mature second half, star Puertas pulled his team over the line.

The Great Old is back to square one after a particularly weak performance. They will get a second chance on Sunday in the Dudenpark.

Moris taps another ball into the corner, Antwerp does nothing with it. The Union goalie will be so relieved with this clean sheet.

Union proves in this second half that their ship has not sunk yet. They seem to be playing this match very maturely, Blessin is coaching on the sidelines with a wall-to-wall smile.

goal

Antwerp

Union

Puertas with the icing on the cake

0-3, books for Antwerp. Puertas finishes coolly at the penalty point, Lammens doesn’t stand a chance and sees the ball disappear into his goal via the post.

This is how Union’s playmaker becomes tonight’s absolute trendsetter.

Castro-Montes gets a string of yellow cardboard shoved under his nose. The wingback has been suspended for Sunday’s match, again against Antwerp.

Alderweireld finds space to take a swing, but cannot get his shot into the frame. That’s how Moris likes to see them come, of course.

Union only needs to fight for another 10 minutes to get that much-needed first victory. Antwerp is unable to put together a decent attack.