Slight advantage for Ghent
Ghent 2-1 Leopold
Ghent: Carr; M. Deplus, T. Deplus, M. Clément, Kina; Murray, Goyet, Masson; Duvekot, Tynevez, Hellin then Esquelin, Dewitte, Molenaar, Paton, T. Clément
Leopold : Henet ; Eaton, Boccard, J. Verdussen, Zimmer; De Trez, N. Poncelet, Englebert; Boon, de Backer, Baumgarten then Forgues, Muschs, S. Poncelet, A. Verdussen, Degroote
Referees : MT Bigare and Miss M. Sergeant
Green cards : 22nd Duvekot, 43rd Degroote, 59th M. Deplus, 63rd Eaton
Yellow card: 29th Kinah
The goals : 12th Hellin (1-0), 37th A. Verdussen (1-1), 62nd Masson on pc (2-1)
Penalty corner : Gantoise (1/2) and Léopold (0/0)
The leader of the regular championship, although in slight loss of speed in recent weeks, against the reigning champion, miraculous last week. This is the attractive poster for this play-off semi-final. The clashes having always been close this year between these two teams, the poster was as beautiful as it was indecisive, without however attracting a large crowd, leaving the stands somewhat bare.
If Leopold was deprived of Van Strydonck when La Gantoise was at full strength, the two coaches logically displayed their confidence and determination.
And indeed, the start of the match was balanced with nice actions on both sides. Both teams played in their usual style and offered all the ingredients of a tough match like this: offensive will, muscular but clean duels, a war of influence in which both clubs excel.
Very quickly, however, Ghent suffocated the Leopold, rendering it harmless. The locals completely weaned the Brussels attackers of bullets, who had to go back down the field to participate in the game. In addition, the Flandriens found spaces in the Brussels lines and used their speed to overtake the Léopold rear guard several times, notably on the 1-0 from Hellin (12th). The first real visiting action only arrived after 22 minutes of play. As a result, frustration mounted in the red and white ranks, who had to be content to take advantage of a few Ghent errors to appear dangerous. Leopold's mid-length and calm game did not bear fruit, almost all of the balls were intercepted by a very well-positioned defense.
On the Ghent side, we had to continue like this and manage the match. Antoine Kina set a bad example by taking an avoidable yellow for having insulted Baumgarten a little too loudly. But, even in superiority, Leopold created nothing for himself. Boon, as often against Ghent, was ghostly. The score at the break was totally deserved.
As usual, Gantoise left the initiative of the game to his opponent and it was a bad thing for him because Léopold quickly equalized in the third quarter thanks to the opportunism of Arthur Verdussen (37th) and Poncelet missed in the process the 1-2 from a cross shot. Hellin, for his part, saw Henet pull off a very classy save. Leopold had corrected certain important details allowing him to access the opposing circle more often. The match heated up for a few minutes then died down. Leopold took possession but both teams once again had difficulty finding their attackers. No pc had yet been whistled in this match, demonstrating the sterility of the offensive players. Suddenly, it was the nervousness that took over. The two coaches mainly repositioned their attackers to try to unlock the opposing strategy. And in this game, it was the people of Ghent who did well with (finally) a first pc, from the start of the last quarter, celebrated as a goal. Kina's sleep did nothing. But it stopped there in terms of clear chances until the second local pc ten minutes later. Sleep on the ground from Kina, deviation from Masson. A Ghent classic but often effective (2-1, 62nd). A bright pass from Duvekot towards Hellin forced Hennet into his second very classy save of the day. The locals found their offensive players better and created a few chances. Leopold remained dangerous and the match remained undecided until the end. The end of the match was very tense. On the buzzer, Tom Boon, who probably touched his first ball in the circle, saw his goal canceled. Very contested decision for the people of Brussels.
We will leave it there for this Saturday, the match ending with a certain tension, particularly between Boccard and Clement. The two coaches demonstrated their tactical intelligence and tomorrow's match remains completely open and undecided. Ghent will have to manage their goal in advance and Leopold will have to be more efficient.
Pascal Kina confirms that the match was “tight” and that he would have “could swing in one direction or the other.”
“Nothing is decided, tomorrow is the second half. Leo is very strong too, they will be ready tomorrow. We too, I will work all night if necessary. But it won’t be the same kind of match tomorrow.”
Agustin Corradini, for his part, believed that his team had “played very well on the ball, but we didn't have any big chances. Tomorrow we will have to start the match the same way, but be able to transform our possession game into an aggressive game to create more chances.”
This will once again be a great hockey moment.
The Dragons ignited the last quarter to take the lead
Watducks 2 – 3 Dragons
Watducks : Vandenbroucke; Van Marcke, Van Oost, Willems, Charlet; Sidler, Curty, Wilbers; Dykmans, Depelsenaire, Rogeau; then Petit, Langendries, van de Kerckhof, Fauchey, Hertschap.
Dragons : Van Doren; Lootens, Della Torre, Harte, Geers; Rubens, Foubert, Denayer; Raes, Crols, T. Luyten; then Lambert, Vanderkeilen, Putters, Luyten, Martinez
Referees : MM. T. Croese and M. Pontus
Green cards : 42nd Della Torre, 48th Depelsenaire, 67th Van Oost, 67th Raes
Yellow card : 68th Dykmans
The goals : 27th Dykmans (1-0), 55th Della Torre on PC (1-1), 59th Raes (1-2), 67th Charlet on PC (2-2), 70th Della Torre on PC (2-3)
Penalty corner Watducks (1/3) and Dragons (2/5)
The start of the match was very closed and cautious on both sides of the pitch. In the 10th minute, Charlet crossed in the circle for Hertschap, but his shot was blocked. On the counter, the Dragons caused their first pc. The first quarter was dominated in a sterile manner by the Watducks. The Dragons were not playing.
We had to wait until the 25th minute to see a big opportunity on an Antwerp counterattack. Denayer veered behind him at one point, but Vandenbroucke was attentive. On the rebound, the ball went wide, but the Dragons obtained their 2nd pc. Della Torre didn't fit. On the Ducks' umpteenth breakthrough on the right flank, Dykmans inherited a ball which he sent into the opposing corner (1-0). Just before the break, Vandenbroucke had to intervene on a counter caused by a bad pass from Curtis.
We felt that both teams were playing with the handbrake. Risk-taking remained in the locker room. In the 37th minute, the Watducks forced their first pc. Charlet had shifted further along the axis. His sleep was postponed. Willems was on the rebound, but Van Doren was still there. The match still did not open. Willems had an exceptional match, worthy of a Red Lion qualified for the Games. The Watducks got a 2nd pc for a kick. Charlet's sleep was not on target. The Dragons were showing some signs of annoyance. The third quarter was a little more disjointed with numerous turnovers on both sides. On a flick that Willems has the secret of, Dykmans received a shot in the circle. Raes drove Wilbers into trouble by quickly making a mistake while Brabançon was not 5 meters away. Della Torre didn't fit.
Then comes a final volcanic quarter. Finally. The last quarter resumed with a fourth pc for the Dragons. Della Torre found the back of the goal from the line-stop side. Foubert limped out after charging towards Vandenbroucke and the post. Raes was recovering in one beat in the circle and put the Dragons in control. The people of Antwerp have finally taken the game into their own hands. Confidence too. The Watducks were losing their nerve. This last quarter is one-way in favor of Antwerp. The last minutes were electric. Mr. Pontus did not see the 3rd pc of the Watducks, but Mr. Croes showed the pc. Charlet scored the goal. His ball was slowed down, but it finished its course in the goal. Dykmans immediately received a yellow card. Raes went to get a pc for a stick shot in the 25. Della Torre scored the pc on the line-stop side (2-3). Goals and cards, the last minutes did not disappoint. Once again, the Dragons showed that they could do very badly when they decided to.
