Small surprise when announcing the line-ups for the cup final: Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel dropped Gyrano Kerk into the starting line-up. Dribbler Chidera Ejuke therefore disappeared to the bench. Alexander Blessin also chose one surprising name: Mathias Rasmussen was preferred over Amani Lazare. Before the start, the supporters of both teams set the Heysel on fire. The enthusiasm was great.
Sledgehammer blow just before the break
The players also immediately put a lot of energy into the game. In the first ten minutes, ‘home team’ Union had the better of the game, although without creating any real opportunities. Antwerp initially did not reach Anthony Moris’ goal. But the first chances of the match were for the Great Old. Janssen’s shot was deflected by Lapoussin, Matazo’s rebound lacked precision. The third goal attempt was also for Antwerp. De Laet nodded a free kick from Balikwisha over the crossbar. Not much later, Ekkelenkampo hit the outside of the post from a great distance.
No great odds, but treacherous pinpricks. At the back, Van den Bosch and Alderweireld were in charge of the fast Amoura and the big Nilsson for a long time. Kerk and Balikwisha provided the few power surges on the counter-attack. The field dominance remained for Union. But let’s be honest: the first half was actually soporific. Ultimately the devil was in the tail. Nilsson forced a corner and extended it himself – with the help of the unfortunate Van den Bosch – to the free-standing Koki Machida. With a handful of seconds left on the clock, the Japanese gave Union the lead. A hammer blow for Antwerp.
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Final offensive in vain
Immediately after the break, the Antwerp fans tried to wake up their team with a pyro show. The party was temporarily stopped. But Antwerp did indeed show more attacking urge afterwards. Kerk had an excellent opportunity after a splitting pass from Janssen, but he struggled too much with the ball. Matazo’s subsequent shot was in vain. Ten minutes later, everyone with a red and white heart was screaming for a penalty after a contact between Burgess and Ekkelenkamp. Referee Erik Lambrechts did not flinch and waved away the protest.
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With twenty minutes left on the clock, Van Bommel intervened. He threw Bataille, Yusuf and – especially – Ejuke into battle. Antwerp simply created too little goal danger and the dribbling-skilled Nigerian had to change that. Half a minute after Antwerp’s triple substitution, however, it was Union that came close to making it 2-0. Nilsson nodded Lapoussin’s cross over and wide. Ten minutes before the end, Antwerp had the chance to equalize. The hard-working Ekkelenkamp could not get past Moris in two times, Ejuke was centimeters short of pushing the restart. In the final phase, Alderweireld took the lead as usual. Antwerp now played all or nothing. Lammens had to keep the masterful Puertas from making it 2-0 on the counter-attack. In the fourth minute of extra time, Amoura, face to face with Lammens, shot incomprehensibly wide.
And Antwerp’s final offensive? That gave birth to a mouse. So there will be no fourth prize in two years for the Great Old. A first cup win for Union in 110 years. It will be a long blue-and-yellow party night in Brussels! And Antwerp will have to try to secure its European ticket for next season through the competition.
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