Antwerp started the battle for the Champions’ Play-offs in pole position, but with Ghent and Anderlecht on just one point, there was no margin of error for The Great Old. The bright start of the visitors should therefore not come as a surprise.
After fifteen minutes OH Leuven took over command. Butez stood on a surprising free kick by Mercier and also parried shots from Schrijvers and Tamari. On a corner, the goalkeeper had been beaten with a header by Özkacar, but now the post saved Antwerp.
OHL continued to pile up the misses with the chances. Mercier offered De Norre, Tamari and Maertens a huge chance, but they always twisted the neck. At Antwerp they could hardly believe that it was still 0-0.
Shortly before half-time, the home team was presented with a corner kick. After a header from Bataille, the ball got stuck in front of the goal and Seck was there like the chickens to fumble the 0-1 into the goal.
Priske dropped Miyoshi and Almeida into the squad for the second half and went into the center back with three plays. That conversion paid off. OHL was allowed to tap the ball smoothly, but Antwerp barely gave anything away.
The visitors also did nothing offensively, just like in the first half. Still, it was almost 0-2, but Nainggolan collided in the final phase with a great save by Runarsson.
