The last day of the championship held a final surprise in the… 70th minute. As we slowly headed towards the expected qualifiers for Braxgata and Watducks, a last-second goal from Grandchamp sealed White Star's score against Braxgata. From 0-2, the scorer narrowly indicated 2-2. This split sends Braxgata from third to fifth place. Ghent, who had already given up on their play-off, was jubilant upon learning of this yet another miracle in this championship. The play-off semi-finals are turned upside down. On Saturday we will be treated to a Gantoise – Léopold and a Watducks – Dragons.
Wat wins and qualifies for the play off
Victory – Watducks 2-5
victory: Verhoeven; Guerra, Clement, Groels, Lucas; Nunez, Plochy, Sarto, Van Minde, Winthagen, Da Costa; then Masip, Poelmans, Scheppers, Van Dessel, Van de Laar
Watducks: Vandenbroucke; Van Marcke, Willems, Charlet, Van Oost; Curty, Sidler, Wilbers; Rogeau, Dykmans, Depelsenaire; then Dumont, Petit, Langendries, Van de Kerckhof, Hertschap
Referees: MM. L. De Clercq and S. Michielsen
Green card : 16th Small
The goals : 3rd Nunez (1-0), 11th Wilbers (1-1), 13th on stroke Charlet (1-2), 28th Van de Kerckhof (1-3), 55th on pc Charlet (1-4), 59th Plochy (2 -4), 68th Wilbers (2-5)
Penalty corner : Victory 0/3 Watducks 1/3
Victory was mandatory for the Watducks to qualify for the Play-off. In fact, they were ahead of Ghent on goal average. The men's team therefore had to imitate its women's counterpart who had qualified for the PO earlier in the day. Opposite, presented Victory, already assured of returning to D1 next year. We could therefore not imagine a misstep by the ducks to qualify for the fourth consecutive year for the OP.
After a first skirmish for the local players, Nunez opened the scoring following a school counterattack. Very enthusiastic, the Victory obtained a pc in the wake of its goal which Dykmans saved on the line. Plochy then cannoned above the frame. Taken cold, Wat reacted and in three minutes took control of the match. First it was Wilbers who equalized before a second goal 2 minutes later on a stroke from Charlet. Verhoeven suddenly saved his team from a double save. Victory played their luck bravely and came close to equalizing on another counterattack. The Wat had possession, helped by flashes of genius in the recovery from Willems. Rogeau pulled aside. Van de Kerckhof concludes from a deflection in goal a tumble to the left of Dumont. With this new goal, the match seemed to be over. Plochy missed his recovery while Willems placed Rogeau in orbit. The French international slipped the ball to Dykmans who ran into Verhoeven.
The third quarter was quite insipid with only two consecutive pc from Dykmans to get their teeth into, a recovery above the goal from Depelsenaire and a try from Plochy on Vandenbroucke.
From the start of the last quarter, the Wat obtained a pc. Charlet converts it to the left of Verhoeven. Plochy revived a semblance of suspense in the 59th but Wat kept the ball. In the 68th minute, Tommy Willems had a brilliant new inspiration and served in the Wilbers circle with a ladle. The Wat midfielder finished in one-step in goal. A goal which was reminiscent of that of Florent Van Aubel on a ladle from Tommy Willems on the Brax pitch (Jeffrey Thys had also scored a similar goal a few years ago). Wat could prepare for its Play-off semi-final.
Gucassoff retires with one last victory
Racing 3 – 1 Leopold
Racing : Gucassoff ; Xavier, Wegnez, Delavignette, Cornez-Massant; Meurmans, Cosyns, Truyens; Charlier, Cayphas, De Chaffoy; then Lucaccioni, Malherbe, Weyers, François, Lambeau.
Leopold : Henet ; Eaton, Boccard, Van Strydonck, Zimmer; De Trez, N. Poncelet, Englebert; Boon, de Backer, Degroote; then Forgues, Muschs, S. Poncelet, Leeuw, A. Verdussen
Referees : MM Dutrieux and Mrs P. Cuypers
Green cards : 32nd Degroote, 35th Truyens, 45th Eaton, 52nd Boon,
The goals 5th François (1-0), 35th Boon (1-1), 60th Cosyns (2-1), 70th Cayphas (3-1)
Penalty corner Racing (0/0) and Leopold (0/2)
The match started with strong emotions. Racing honored its emblematic Jérémy Gucassoff who played his last match before his retirement. Victor Wegnez completed his six-year lease before joining the Watducks next season. Lambeau, Delavignette and Malherbe also played their last match with the Racing jersey. The president of the COIB, Jean-Michel Saive gave the kick-off.
Agus Corradini had done without the services of his threatened cardholders: Cuvelier, Baumgarten and J. Verdussen.
The match as such did not have much at stake since Léo was guaranteed to finish in first place while Racing could no longer qualify for the top 4.
On a well-negotiated counter, Charlier served in the circle François who deflected an aerial ball into Henet's goal (1-0)
The second quarter resumed with a victorious cross shot from Boon, but the backstick was whistled by Mr. Dutrieux. Zimmer was not far off target on his breakthrough on the baseline. Leo had passed the second and seriously dominated this second quarter. Truyens took a green one for a stick. On the throw-in, Léo pierced the axis and ended up in Gucassoff's goal just before the break.
The third quarter was lively, but the chances were rare. The Leopold obtained a 2nd pc. Degroote didn't fit. Lambeau was not far from 2-1, but he scored with his shoe.
The last quarter remained pleasant to follow. We felt that Leo was avoiding taking risks and yellow cards with a view to the semi-finals. On a throw-in from Lambeau, Cosyns deviated into the circle and beat Henet (2-1).
On a flick, Henet touches Cayphas in their duel, but he touches the ball first. Monsieur Dutrieux whistled a stroke. Lambeau wanted to score a goal before leaving, but Henet diverted him. Léo finished the match without Henet who had just scored a stroke to keep the suspense alive. In the 70th minute, Cayphas scored the last goal of the season for Racing.
The other matches
White Star – Braxgata 2-2
42nd Van Biesen (0-1), 47th Luypaert (0-2), 62nd Grandchamp (1-2), 70th Grandchamp (2-2)
Orée – Daring 2-0
27th Generet (1-0), 46th Domene (2-0)
Uccle Sport – Gantoise 3-6
7th Magnant (1-0), 11th Defise (2-0), 23rd Goyet (2-1), 27th Duvekot (2-2), 31st Clément (2-3), 39th T. Clément (2-4), 46th Hellin (2-5), 49th Tynevez (2-6), 70th Plennevaux (3-6)
Herakles – Dragons 3-2
11th Denayer (0-1), 30th Keusters (1-1), 36th De Kerpel (2-1), 40th Van Dessel (3-1), 67th Denayer (3-2)
