Antwerp continues to follow in the footsteps of Club Brugge and Union after a frugal and by no means convincing 0-1 win on the field of Cercle Brugge. A boost after the cup debacle in Westerlo and just before the important week with matches against Fenerbahçe and Anderlecht. Top scorer Michael Frey gave the Great Old the three points from the penalty spot.
After the short – and not so powerful – cup adventure, the competition has only increased in importance for Antwerp. So it was better to win against Cercle Brugge. Priske went to stand in front of the mirror after the meager display against Westerlo, but he also expected a reaction from his group. The Danish coach returned to the team that Club Brugge kept in check a week ago. Fischer for Balikwisha was the only substitution.
Twelfth man better than the eleven on the field
But that expected response was delayed for the first 45 minutes. Everything that Priske did not want after Westerlo, he saw against Cercle. The flowing attacks of his troops could be counted on one hand and the greatest target danger came from the home playing Association. Butez was one of the few visitors at a level. The goalkeeper risked life and limb by flying into Millán’s feet. Scots from Matondo and Van der Bruggen couldn’t get him in trouble. For Corryn, ex-Antwerp, the match lasted only 25 minutes. He had to retire injured.
The Antwerp players who did not reach their best level could not be counted on one hand. Then the fans who traveled along deserved more attention. Fischer’s two shots, Verstraete’s free kick that was too high and Benson’s blocked shot made it difficult for them to warm up. Yet they kept the atmosphere in the whole party. admirable.
More urge to attack after rest
Okay, Cercle forgot to reward itself a few times this season, but against the penultimate in the standings we can expect a little more from a team with sky-high ambitions. Priske did not make any changes at half time, but at the start of the second company he saw more urgency for his team.
And that resulted in a goal after ten minutes. With the cooperation of Utkus, of course. Engels headed a long throw-in from De Laet against the Lithuanian’s arm. Referee D’hondt went to review the phase on his screen. When he pointed to the dot, the hitherto invisible Frey had already claimed the ball. He kicked his thirteenth goal in thirteen games against the ropes in front of the singing fans.
Butez alert
Cercle did not want to be left empty-handed after a decent match and went looking for the equalizer and a penalty kick, but the referee did not respond to Vitinho’s appeal. At the Great Old, Samatta and Balikwisha were given twenty minutes to secure a safer lead. Didillon immediately had to react alertly to a low slide from the Tanzanian substitute.
At the Association, Matondo and Hotic came closest to an equalizer. Especially with a free kick from the latter, Butez had to display his best goalkeeping work. While defending the narrow lead, Verstraete ran into his fifth yellow card. He therefore misses the top match against Anderlecht.
Antwerp continues to follow in the footsteps of Club Brugge and Union thanks to the victory, although the team from Brussels will still play against AA Gent this match day. The stock number 1 remains in the top four, although they do realize that it has to be much better against Fenerbahçe on Thursday and Anderlecht on Sunday to take points there as well. City rival Beerschot will not care about the Antwerp victory either. The gap on Cercle, their first target, is only four points after this matchday.
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