To know if a Standard match will attract a crowd or not, all you have to do is arrive an hour before the start of the match and see how easy access is. Less than 10,000 people took the trouble to come and see the Rouches, which is already a small performance, knowing that Standard matches no longer have any stakes, other than knowing when the supporters were going to interrupt the match .
We're exaggerating, there wasn't just that to see, but it was still a question. And after 12 minutes of encouragement strike, it took thirty seconds more for the Ultras to send smoke bombs onto the pitch. Under the eyes of Don Dransfield, the CEO of the football branch of 777 Partners, the messages addressed to the shareholder, in English, were clear: “Return home” or “Respect the institution and take responsibility of your choices.
The players were not spared, and after a messy start to the match and a Malinois goal canceled for offside which displayed all the passivity of the Liège defense (9th), Ivan Leko's team at least had the good taste to create chances, but Kawabe was caught by Foulon (29th) and Balikwisha placed his shot above the goal of Coucke (34th) who had intervened on a strike from Kanga (43rd).
Standard better in the second period
He left this first period with the impression that Mechelen had delivered a very average performance and Standard had been (a little) better. But not enough to lead, and that was the whole problem, since the restart, in the second period, diffused the same feeling of a better rouche presence, without the efficiency, like this strike from Kawabe blocked by Coucke (70th) or this header on the Malinois goalkeeper.
This better animation from Liège, with the climbs of Djenepo and Sowah, in any case gave another tone to the meeting, and Kanga, well served by Djenepo, saw his recovery in one time saved in front of the Mechelen line (77th). Standard were better than Mechelen in the second half, but they still had to finish, otherwise they would be exposed to punishment.
It ultimately did not fall, but Standard had to be content with a fourth division in a row. It's not a defeat, but it hardly advances or allows us to draw a little positive during the play-offs which drag on without success at the end of the first leg. There will remain a return phase to find out if Standard will be able to finally win a match.
