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Antwerp now also wins at the Bosuil: Balikwisha’s goal against Zulte Waregem

© BELGIUM

© BELGIUM

© BELGIUM

©  Isosport

© BELGIUM

Antwerp has a six out of six. The Great Old deservedly won but without much surplus against Zulte Waregem on Sunday evening: 1-0. Michel-Ange Balikwisha went from zero to hero in twenty minutes.

Yanko Beeckman

Sunday night games at 9pm: no one really a fan of it. But that first league match of the season at home? They were looking forward to that at Antwerp. De Bosuil was churning before the match against Zulte Waregem as usual. Both teams started with a lot of enthusiasm.

The quality of the football left something to be desired at times, but there was no shortage of spectacle. A total of eighteen shots were fired before half-time – each more precise than the other. The first danger came from the visitors. Jelle Vossen nodded a good cross from the right against the crossbar. The Tawny Owl held its breath for a moment.

© BELGIUM

Not for long, because the Antwerp answer was not long in coming. An industrious Nainggolan sent Balikwisha into the sixteen with a good pass. After a clever move he tried to outwit Bossut. In vain. Miyoshi also saw his attempt in the short corner saved in the restart.

The visitors continued to play football well, but it was Antwerp that increasingly pulled the sheet to itself. After a nice dribble, Nainggolan found Miyoshi on the right. The Japanese again decided too weak. On the other hand, it was his near-namesake Miroshi who threatened. The Tanzanian tried with a volley from the second line. Butez was troubled by it, but stood firm.

Halfway through the first half, the candle went out briefly on both sides. We had to wait until the last five minutes of the first period for a few new power surges. But Gerkens and Balikwisha also did not get past Bossut. Everything to play after rest.

scorching pace

Antwerp eagerly came out of the dressing room. Frey was cleverly sent into the depths after barely a minute, could only reach the goal and saw the detached Balikwisha at the far post. He could almost run the ball into goal, but saw his opportunity saved from the line by the returned Bossut. A painful miss. Fortunately for him, that pain was eased by the fact that near-assist giver Frey turned out to have left from offside.

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The pace remained scorching after the break – with danger on both sides – but by the middle of the second half there had still been no goals. In minute 68, Balikwisha felt the time had come to correct his mistake. After a good tap from Frey, Vines was able to cross from the left. Balikwisha pushed in in one go. From hell to heaven. In barely twenty minutes.

Antwerp played the game calmly after that – Miroshi made it a bit more difficult for Zulte Waregem fifteen minutes before the end with an avoidable second yellow card. Antwerp is behind his name after two matches with a fine six out of six. The Great Old will travel with confidence to the Norwegian Lillestrøm this week for the vital qualifier in the Conference League.

    • Antwerp and Essevee keep each other in balance in the first half
    • Balikwisha puts the 1-0 on the board
    • Essevee has to continue with 10
  • END

    Narrow win for the Great Old

    It took a lot of effort, but Antwerp keeps the three points at home against a strong Zulte Waregem. In the second half, Balikwisha broke the spell for the Antwerp players. Essevee still fell with his tens.

  • 93′ End of the 2nd half

  • 92′

    Yellow card

    Vincent Janssen of Antwerp gets yellow.

  • 90′

    Extra time

    Zulte Waregem still has three minutes to equalize.

  • 89′

    De Laet hits the stake

    Ritchie De Laet hits the stake before the two substitutions are made. A little commotion, but the ball was apparently just over the goal line.

  • 88′

    Replacement

    Change at Antwerp. Viktor Fischer replaces Michel Ange Balikwisha.

  • 87′

    Replacement

    Change at Antwerp. Birger Verstraete replaces Radja Nainggolan.

  • 86′

    Everything or nothing

    Leye throws in three youthful new names. Can they bring anything else?

  • 86′

    Replacement

    Substitution at Zulte Waregem. Dylan Demuynck replaces Jean-Luc Dompe.

  • 85′

    Replacement

    Substitution at Zulte Waregem. Lucas Willen replaces Moudou Tambedou.

  • 85′

    Replacement

    Substitution at Zulte Waregem. Sylla replaces Alessandro Ciranni.

  • 82′

    Janssen with difficulty

    Antwerp seems to have won, but still continues. Nainggolan sees Janssen standing in the front and that’s where the ball goes. The Dutchman just can’t get his head around it. Besides, it was offside.

  • 80′

    Defender there

    Mbaye Leye does not want to concede a second goal and throws in a new defender with Tsouka. Fox is off.

  • 79′

    Replacement

    Substitution at Zulte Waregem. Ravy Tsouka replaces Jelle Vossen.

  • 76′

    Ai ai Zulte

    Things suddenly look bleak for Essevee. Miroshi goes a little too bright in a duel with Janssen and that results in a second yellow card. D’hondt is unrelenting. Tambedou also goes on the receipt after protest.

  • 75′

    Red card

    Novatus Miroshi van Zulte Waregem gets a second yellow and therefore red.

  • 74′

    Yellow card

    Moudou Tambedou of Zulte Waregem gets yellow.

  • 72′

    Offside Foxes

    Jelle Vossen runs well into the depth, but left too quickly and was therefore offside.

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