Jupiler Pro LeagueUnion has flushed the European disappointment against Rangers FC with a 2-1 win against Kortrijk. Teuma made the difference with an early penalty and a nice goal after the break. Due to the postponement of the match against Antwerp next weekend, Union will have a two-week run-up to the derby at home against Anderlecht. Alias Karel Geraerts versus his teacher Mazzu: “I have nothing to say about Felice: it will be Union against Anderlecht.”
The Union fans got a view of fresh blood in the Duden Park tonight. Victor Boniface – who was not eligible to play against Rangers FC – made his debut in Union’s attack alongside Dante Vanzeir, at the expense of Simon Adingra. Boniface made it immediately clear that he can function as a pivot with his strong body and that he can split a defense with his fast running actions, in his enthusiasm he did not always play football cleanly.
Union had something to make up for after two 3-0 uppercuts against KV Mechelen and Rangers FC. But the pace and the opponent could not be compared to the European game on Tuesday. Union quickly took matters into their own hands against a weak Kortrijk. Boniface claimed a penalty early on, but he went down too easily. Moments later, the ball was on the spot, after a hooking error by Sissoko on Lapoussin. Captain Teuma converted the penalty.
Union played football quickly for a while: Lapoussin showed himself very active and put Ilic to the test. Lazare showed his infiltration ability, but missed a unique chance to make it 2-0 just in front of goal. Kortrijk was barely able to counterattack, but Union’s decisiveness also weakened. Only at the end of the first half were the visitors able to threaten: a timid header from Messaoudi and a threatening dribble from Selemani. It had to wait for the first attempt within the framework of the Chamber of Commerce.
Belhocine indicated with three substitutions at halftime that he was clearly not satisfied with the level of play. Massimo Bruno was allowed to make his first minutes. Booster Kevin Vandendriessche also joined the team and Kortrijk put a little more pressure in this way. In the counterattack, Union showed itself more dangerous. Vanzeir immediately took a ball on the shoe but was unable to frame his attempt. On the hour, Teuma delivered a gifted moment. He cut himself free on the edge of the box and curled the ball in next to the right post: 2-0.
His starring role was good, after he was unable to move as captain in Glasgow. The match seemed over. The soup at Kortrijk was lumpy, but with Selemani they have a class player who once again brought tension into the match with a goal against. Gueye even missed a unique chance for an equalizer, but Union also failed to score 3-1, KVK goalkeeper Ilic also emphasized his strong goalkeepers with two parades on hard bangs from Vanzeir. All in all, Union achieved its second victory of the season without much effort and crawls back to the sub-top in the standings.
For star Teuma, the victory was extremely important to flush the bitter pill after the European elimination in the CL preliminary round against Rangers FC: “We were able to turn the switch. What happened in Glasgow is over. That was a disappointment, but we shouldn’t throw everything in the trash because of that. I had the impression that people thought: ‘Union is finished.’ We have to look at things positively and have shown a lot of character against Kortrijk. My role as captain is to re-mobilize the squad so that we don’t start to doubt. This victory will not put us in a negative spiral.”
Union coach Karel Geraerts: “It will mainly be Union against Anderlecht”
Geraerts rewards his players with a few days off after the win against Kortrijk. Then the long preparation for the derby against Anderlecht starts on 28 August. Union is planning another exhibition game next weekend. The derby is something to look forward to. Not only because Union was able to beat Anderlecht no less than four times in the competition last year, but also because ex-Union coach Felice Mazzu now trains the other side and Geraerts grew into head coach at Union as Mazzu’s assistant.
But Geraerts does not want to see it as a duel within a duel: “It will mainly be Union against Anderlecht. I learned a lot from Felice. My respect for him is enormous and will remain so for the rest of my days. I have nothing to say about it.” The players of Union can hear the same sound. “We have nothing against Mazzu”, says Teddy Teuma, the captain and star with two goals against Kortrijk. “But people who know each other and the rivalry between clubs is part of the beauty of a derby.” Midfielder Senne Lynen also expects a nice derby: “I myself had a good relationship with Mazzu, but the fact is that we are looking forward to a derby anyway and want to beat Mazzu now.”
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