Antwerp is saddled with 0 out of 9 after defeat against Zulte W …

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No more Beiranvand in target at Antwerp, but Butez, or what did you think? It was up to the French to get rid of the goalkeeper issue. Gelin – although not suspended after his red card against Club Brugge – also remained on the bench. Of the men who made mistakes, only Juklerod was allowed to stand. A surprising debutant in the base at Zulte Waregem: Kainourgios got his chance. He had to assist De Bock – who played his 250th match in first division – on the left.

After Antwerp got away well – Bruno claimed a penalty foul from De Laet and didn’t seem to be completely wrong – it came under steam. It created two big chances in two minutes, each from the left flank, but Mbokani missed them both. Gerkens was also unable to score in the rebound. The visitors got away very well, but were unlucky, because they had to change quickly. After Krmencik was written off at Club earlier in the day, his Czech buddy was now also unlucky. Chory was injured after the side and was replaced by Vossen.

Good Govea against ex-club

Yet that turned out not to be disadvantageous for Dury’s team, which gradually came into the match. Seck headed once to Butez, Marcq lobte over and Bruno and Vossen shot over. The home team was also sometimes dangerous via Miyoshi, but ten minutes before the end of the first half they still trailed 0-1. After a corner turned off – which followed shortly after Butez’s bad football – Deschacht brought the ball from the right – and with his lesser right – still dangerously in front of goal. Vossen headed back, Bruno headed in. Just like last season, the Liège attacker put his team ahead of De Bosuil. With especially a strong Govea on the ball – we rarely saw him play that way at the Great Old – Essevee also held on to that lead until half-time.

Leko did not hesitate and took Hongla to the side – after all, the Cameroonian lost too many balls. With Benson there was an extra attacking force. Not much later such an offensive switch again, but this time forced. De Laet was already groggy after a duel with Govea before the break and tried to continue, but he still had too much trouble. Ampomah took his place. Full speed ahead, that was the only option for Antwerp.

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Declined equalizer

However, that was so difficult. The substitutes also did not get past their man and it remained to watch out for the counters. Marcq and Govea were able to walk a few times towards the target, but then forgot to shoot. Govea did it once anyway and almost hit it. A good Butez prevented the 0-2.

In the meantime, the strongholds of Antwerp seemed cursed. After De Laet, Haroun now also had to receive medical care, after an elbow. The captain also headed a great opportunity next to it. And in the end Refaelov was replaced after another lesser match. He also seemed to have problems and so it was up to De Sart. For a moment it seemed to be 1-1, but after Seck had scored, it turned out that he had committed hands. D’hondt did not hesitate and rejected the goal.

Leko’s men could no longer create many more opportunities. In the end it also remained 0-1. Zulte Waregem can use the victory very well, the defeat is very inconvenient for Antwerp; Losing in-house twice in a row: that doesn’t happen often anyway. And now there is a gap of four points with the top four. It will have to be much better against Waasland-Beveren and Charleroi.

(David Van den Broeck)