Antwerp will board the plane tomorrow with a good starting position. It fell behind against Basaksehir, but Almeida took care of the 1-1 final score. The Great Old has everything in its own hands to reach the groups of the Conference League.
It might as well have been a heavyweight boxing match. With Michael Frey in one corner, Stefano Okaka in the other. Guys we’d rather not take a hit from, or we might not be able to tell it again – with our chests as wide as a stylo. But bon, in football it is not about the number of kilos that are lifted in the fitness, but about the goals. And in that area alone, the first half was a soft spot: zero goals.
A zero-zero, Antwerp didn’t seem to mind. Not least because it started in a modified formation in Turkey – with no wingers. “Normally we never do it, but because of the injuries on the wing I couldn’t do anything but tinker,” said Van Bommel. “We were not even able to train on this, we were only able to indicate it during the tactical meeting.”
Despite the lack of preparation, the visitors were largely in control. It was only when Mounir Chouiar touched the ball that it was all hands on deck, although that had not only to do with his sharp dribbling, but also (and perhaps especially) with the quality of his direct opponent. Dinis Almeida will never be a Toby Alderweireld. We had only just typed the above sentence or it was already that: Chouiar simply cut Almeida out and then curled into the far corner: 1-0. Radja’s inspiration just before – beautiful shot – deserved better.
Another nine
Antwerp now suddenly had to start chasing so as not to start the return trail behind. It didn’t help that he didn’t have a striker on the bench – Vincent Janssen was suspended after a stupid yellow card against Lillestrom. However, Frey could have gone to the side: he worked, but was invisible and unhappy with the ball. If Marc Overmars still manages to find a nine somewhere, then we don’t think that’s a superfluous luxury. The wash is thin in the front. “I am satisfied with my attackers”, said Van Bommel afterwards. “Look, it was a thankless game. Give it a go. Michael wasn’t top notch, nobody was, but he did figure himself out in function of the team.”
You couldn’t blame Antwerp for not blindly looking for the equalizer. A gap of one goal can still be made up at home, especially not to become two. Van Bommel: “If you still lose, then rather 1-0.” In no time it was 2-0: Butez had to unpack with a great parade when battering ram Okaka appeared in front of him. You gradually no longer have enough fingers on two hands to keep up with the Frenchman’s impressive saves.
Swirling Deurne North
Just when no one expected it, Antwerp still managed to make it 1-1, after which it suddenly became louder in the chilly Fatih Terim stadium – the Belgians who had traveled along were celebrating. Vines dropped the ball towards the second zone, where Almeida of all places with a buffalo punch gave Babacan no chance. Paul Gheysens breathed a sigh of relief in the grandstand: no first loss, but a good starting position to advance to the groups. This Basaksehir, a cunning plow, can be caught. “Now we have to finish it at home”, concluded Van Bommel. “Maybe then we can recover some boys and there is also our twelfth man. I’m happy with this result, especially given that late lucky 1-1.”
Qualifying Antwerp would also be a boon for football – and we say that without a hint of patriotism. In Istanbul we were able to determine for ourselves that Basaksehir is a ghost team: without spectators or atmosphere. Rather a swirling Deurne Noord…
