Is there still hope for KV Mechelen in the Europe play-offs? With an easy 3-0 win against OH Leuven, they are now within three points of AA Gent, which will meet Westerlo tonight. While the people of Leuven had to miss their coach Oscar Garcia, who stayed home sick, Malinwa also had a hard time in the first half. After the break things still rolled smoothly over OHL.
No Coucke on the score sheet at KV Mechelen. The goalkeeper has an injury, Thoelen took his place under the crossbar. Cobbaut was also not fit, which meant that coach Hasi had to abandon his three-man defense. Walsh came into the team as a right back in a 4-3-3. Pflücke had to make way for Storm.
The first opportunity was for OH Leuven, where Manel Exposito was head coach for one day. By the way, all OHL players showed up with ‘Stay Strong Nathan’ on the shirt, referring to striker Opoku who has a double leg fracture. Maziz, who took the place of Brunes, sent Banzuzi deep. The latter aimed just under a meter wide. A little later an even bigger opportunity came for KV Mechelen. Russo tripped over his own feet and Storm was able to run towards goal, but aimed his shot poorly. On the other side, Schrijvers tried from afar, but he decided over it. Just before the half hour mark, Maziz also made an attempt from outside the box, but he too did not aim within the frame.
The match had waves up and down, but it rarely became really dangerous in the first half. The football was usually quite sloppy. Shortly before half-time, Storm made a shot from the left, but his shot from the corner went wide.
Traction error
Immediately after the break, Schoofs broke the game open. With a wonderful kick from more than twenty meters, the captain gave KV Mechelen a 1-0 lead. The goal gave Malinwa a boost and they immediately started playing much better football. When OHL defender Russo simply went under the ball for the second time, the home team deservedly made it 2-0. On a pass from Mrabti, Bassette was able to approach goal alone and he coolly placed the ball next to goalkeeper Leysen. Soon Schoofs immediately made it 3-0, but Leysen was able to prevent that with a leg sweep.
Photo: Isosport
OHL was nowhere for a while, although the recently substituted Brunes seemed to score the tying goal out of nowhere. However, the flag was flagged for offside. Then it was back to Mechelen, where Mrabti kicked wide. The people of Leuven tried to restore the balance and that led to two attempts by Thorsteinsson, both of which went wide. It never came to a Leuven goal. Danger was once again on the other side. When Banzuzi committed a drawing foul on Bassette, the ball landed on the spot. Mrabti accidentally kicked Leysen, but a Leuven player entered the box too quickly and the penalty had to be taken again. Mrabti put the 3-0 final score in the right corner.
Goals: 47′ Schoofs (Storm) 1-0, 58′ Bassette 2-0, 90′ Mbrati (penalty) 3-0
Yellow cards: 70′ Mrabti, 75′ Thorsteinsson
KV Mechelen: Thoelen, Garananga, Bates, Walsh, Mukau, Schoofs (94′ Lauberbach), Foulon, Storm (65′ Konaté), Hairemans (65′ Bafdili), Mrabti (94′ Van Hecke), Bassette (94′ Pflücke)
OHL: Leysen, Schingtienne, Russo, Akimoto, Sagrado (81′ Dom), Mendyl (62′ Nsingi), Schrijvers (81′ Misao), Banzuzi, Thorsteinsson (93′ Mueanta), Maziz, Maertens (62′ Brunes)
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
