When a division really tastes like defeat
Ghent 1-1 Herakles
Ghent: Carr; M. Deplus, Molenaar, Paton, Kina; Murray, Goyet, Masson; Duvekot, Tynevez, Hellin then Esquelin, T. Clément, Dewitte, T. Deplus, M. Clément
Herakles: Santiago; Coolen, Cicileo, Le Clef; Van Damme, Van Dessel, Vloeberghs; Thomas, De Kerpel, De Borrekens then Collignon, Delaisse, Leenders, Callaerts, Donck
Referees : MM. M. Pontus and D. Van Den Eede
Green cards : 23rd Van Dessel, 39th Molenaar, 44th Keusters, 52nd Masson, 58th Kina
Yellow cards: 38th Van Dessel, 52nd Masson
The goals : 29th Hellin (1-0), 58th De Borrekens
Penalty corner : Gantoise (0/5) and Herakles (0/2)
Gantoise can take a big step towards qualification, in this very tricky match, against Herakles, who lost all illusion of play-off in a few minutes last week against Daring. Beware of the wounded beast therefore for Ghent, who, after a slump, recovered last week by taking the three essential points for Victory. The motivation is palpable even before kick-off and Ghent knows that it has no room for error in this match. The locals took the match directly into their hands, with a first long ball from Kina towards the circle, full axis. Murray deflected towards Duvekot, who forced Santiago into a first save. On the rebound, Masson's off-center shot went along the goal line without anyone being able to deflect it. The tone was set, Ghent wanted to master his subject. As usual, Ghent varied the presses very high and (often) very low, leaving the ball to his opponent until approaching the 23 and looking for defensive surplus. Herakles, in their usual 3-4-3, pressed high and hampered Ghent, without however intercepting the ball in dangerous areas. When Ghent came out of it, the spaces on the flanks were very well surveyed, like on this comeback from Esquelin on the left, which served Duvekot who once again collided with the former Ghent goalkeeper. Tyvenez once again provoked the Antwerp goalkeeper twice. Then Masson. And once again, Santiago saved the furniture. La Gantoise played its game, took its time, and infiltrated the opposing lines quite often while Herakles was hardly dangerous and did not find the solution against the local block. The first little local prank came three minutes before the first break, but more was needed to deceive Carr. This first act therefore ended with a very tactical 0-0, a game in which Ghent always excels, with possession of the ball generally left to Herakles, but with dangerous actions very clearly in favor of the locals.
Same appearance in the second quarter, but without the actions. Neither team managed to appear dangerous until the seventh minute and Clement's very nice pass to Esquelin, who shot wide when there was really better to do. The match was tactical and far from offensive fireworks. In the 9th minute, Herakles obtained their first pc and de Kerpel's sleep was magnificently saved by Carr with his right foot, while extending. We came close to tragedy for the people of Ghent. On the contrary, on the counter, an innocuous mistake on the right flank allowed Kina to look for, in flick, Tynevez, isolated in the circle, who passed behind to Hellin, who, subtly, placed out of Santiago's reach (1 -0). On the throw-in, a recovery from Goyet was very close to making it 2-0, but the ball flew wide. Two minutes before the break, a beautiful full-axis pass from Kina arrived at the deflection of Masson, who reached Clement, very strong today. His backhand shot towards the top corner was saved by Santiago. La Gantoise passed the second, and caused in the 33rd, its first pc via Clement, again, on the left baseline. Esquelin slept nearby. If the match was neither exciting nor spectacular, we felt Ghent diligent and master of her subject. Antwerp's actions were too rare. But for Ghent it was necessary to take shelter, because we know the adage in these cases. We felt that if Ghent doubled the score, the match would be over.
And indeed, Ghent returned to the field with a new strategy: a high and aggressive press. Herakles had difficulty getting out, and were quickly reduced to 10 with the yellow of Van Dessel, whom Molenaar quickly joined on the penalty box, but for only two minutes. Unfortunately, the numerous mistakes, the technical waste on both sides and the nervousness of Ghent disrupted the beautiful game. The few penetrations of the circle were without danger. We had to wait until the 11th minute to see a counter initiated by Kina, following a foul discussed by Antwerp. Masson brought the ball into the circle and pushed it over the body of a defender. Was the stroke going to spell the deliverance of Ghent? On the contrary, he was missed by Tynevez, which further increased the tension. Nothing was happening in this shift. Two minutes before the break, for an avoidable failure to respect the 5m in the 23, Herakles obtained their second pc. Alexis Leclef slept on the ground and in the center of the goal. Good save from Carr. The counterattack was almost deadly, but the last pass was dangerous. Masson took green then yellow for grumbling. It was necessary to bring down the tension in Q4, as the locals were going to start outnumbered.
La Gantoise fell back and went on the counterattack. This almost was effective thanks to a superb reconversion initiated and concluded by Hellin and Duvekot, against which Santiago brilliantly intervened. New PC, for the same reason as the previous one. Kina took green for complaint. The sleep was saved Tynevez who went out in 1, but came back on an Antwerp attacker, who placed the ball on the stick of De Borrekens who placed it in the ceiling (1-1). The 1-2 was immediately extremely close, with penetration from the left of the circle. There seemed to be a foul on Van Dessel, but the referee allowed the advantage. Finally the striker's shot brushed the post. Were Ghent busy losing their play-offs? In any case, the management had to return, as they had mastered it so well in the first period. Duvekot went for his giant slalom and caused a very contested pc (the fault seemed to be outside the circle). Kina's sleep was nevertheless harmless.
The Braxgata score was known here and faces were worried. Ghent had five minutes left to score but it was difficult to see how that was going to happen, because it was Herakles who monopolized the ball and the incursions. Pascal Kina then took out his goalkeeper, and Ghent started again. There were only three minutes left for Ghent to save their season and the locals immediately obtained a third pc (once again contested). Three times, Santiago and his defense intervened. Two new unproductive PCs sealed the fate of Ghent, who today lose a great chance of qualification. The people of Ghent showed themselves frustrated with the refereeing, but probably only have themselves to blame, as they had everything in hand in the first half and can harbor a lot of regrets about their management of the second. They probably won't defend their title this year.
Brax qualifies and Watducks gets a boost from Herakles
Watducks 2 – 5 Braxgata
Watducks : Vandenbroucke; Van Oost, Willems, Charlet, Van Marcke; Depelsenaire, Wilbers, Sidler; Rogeau, Curty, Dykmans; then Langendries, Petit, Dumont, van de Kerckhof, Hertschap
Braxgata :Walter; Loots, O. Biekens, Luypaert, Van Steerteghem; Van Biesen, Walsh, T. Biekens; Walker, Briels, Onana; then De Winter, Van Cleynenbreugel, Van Straaten, Harris, Van Bavel
Referees : MM. G. Uyttenhove and T. Hennes
Green cards : 54th Briels, 58th Rogeau
The goals : 20th Van Straaten (0-1), 26th Depelsenaire (1-1), 29th Rogeau (2-1), 35th Briels (2-2), 46th Walker (2-3), 61st Luypaert (2-4), 63rd De Winter (2-5)
Penalty corner Watducks (0/0) and Braxgata (1/2)
Before the meeting, the Watducks honored its two French people who are leaving Belgium at the end of the season: Victor Charlet and Blaise Rogeau. Braxgata fielded the same team that eliminated Racing last Sunday.
The Watducks, who played without Ghislain, only needed four minutes to cause a PC… canceled. The first chance came after 11 minutes. Van Oost quickly made a mistake and sent the ball into the middle. Dykmans deflected it into the circle, but Walter had the right reflex. The start of the match was very tactical and closed with two quick defensive withdrawals.
In the 20th minute, the Brax bench screamed, demanding a pc for a failure to respect the five meters in the circle, but the referee allowed the game to continue. Van Straaten and Walsh were on the ball and the first deceived Vandenbroucke (0-1). In the 26th minute, on a shot in the circle, Depelsenaire blocked the ball with his back to the goal and turned around, arming a big shot on the glove side of Walter who could do nothing (1-1). Frenchman Blaise Rogeau then blew up the grandstand by bombing the ball into Walter's cage in the 29th minute. On a long flick from Willems, Charlet was at the receiving end. His cross arrived at Wilbers who did not fit. The Brabançons were on fire. At the end of the half, Vandenbroucke had to save a shot from Olivier Biekens. Thomas Briels accelerated in the circle to place the ball next to Vandenbroucke (2-2).
The third quarter was already a little crazy with a game that opened up a lot. Both teams controlled the ball and their nerves. The goalkeepers were not in great demand. In the 46th minute, Walker quickly recovered the ball to crucify Vandenbroucke (2-3). In the process, on a long pass from Luypaert, Briels had the ball at 2-4.
In the 54th minute, Wilbers conceded the first point of the match. Vandenbroucke avoided the break. Briels was taking a green one. Willems found Dykmans' deflection, but Depelsenaire was not able to finish. Depelsenaire then forced Walter into the parade. Van Marcke conceded the second pc of Brax. Luypaert sent it to the line-stop side. On a counter full of composure, the Brax took cover. De Winter just had to push it into the empty goal (2-5). This time, the Brax moved calmly and in total control. The Brax had just won their second decisive match.
As they left the field, the Brabançons were dejected. They had just lost their chances of getting into the top 4. But, a few minutes later, hope returned. At that moment, they learned that Ghent had lost two points against Herakles. In other words, the Watducks went from a 1% chance of qualifying to a 99% chance.
The other matches
Daring – Uccle Sport 2-2
22nd Plennevaux (0-1), 27th Bell (1-1), 60th Amoroso (1-2), 67th Cosyns (2-2)
White Star – Racing 2-8
4th Cosyns (0-1), 9th François (0-2), 15th Cosyns (0-3), 25th De Chaffoy (0-4), 34th Grandchamp (1-4), 51st Grandchamp (2-4), 54th De Chaffoy (2-5), 56th Cayphas (2-6), 64th Cosyns (2-7), 70th Cosyns (2-8)
Dragons – Victory 3-0
35th Crols (1-0), 55th Raes (2-0), 58th Martinez (3-0)
Léopold – Orée 6-2
6th Labouchère (0-1), 12th Baumgarten (1-1), 18th Baumgarten (2-1), 40th L. Domene (2-2), 42nd A. Verdussen (3-2), 62nd Degroote (4-2), 68th Cuvelier (5-2), 69th Cuvelier (6-2)
