The relegation topper between Seraing and Zulte Waregem did not get a winner. Essevee eyed victory in Liège, but a late goal from Poaty still resulted in a division of points that did not help either team.
Seraing – Zulte Waregem in a nutshell:
- Key moment: Just before the break Zulte Waregem gets a penalty kick. However, Lepoint claims that he got the ball against his chin. But the VAR agrees with referee Kevin Van Damme. Vossen converts the penalty.
- Man of the match: In a very bad match, the man of the equalizer – Morgan Poaty – gets that title. His 3rd JPL goal was there and keeps Seraing alive.
- Battle at the bottom: With 8 matches ahead, Zulte Waregem is 3 points behind numbers 14 and 15 Eupen and KV Kortrijk. Next week Zulte Waregem will receive KVK in a neighbor duel. A trip to Eupen awaits in April.
Seraing has to bridge a gap of 6 points on Eupen and KVK and does not have the easiest program with Union, Antwerp, Club and Gent.
Questionable penalty, 2 red cards
“This game is more important than a 6-point match”, said Zulte Waregem coach Mbaye Leye just before kick-off.
But Sissako hadn’t understood that very well. The midfielder almost headed into his own goal on the half hour mark. Goalkeeper Bossut breathed a sigh of relief when the ball went wide.
5 minutes before the break, referee Kevin Van Damme put the ball on the spot. The reason was hand play from Lepoint. But Seraing’s captain signaled that he had been hit with the ball against his chin.
The VAR agreed with Van Damme. Jelle Vossen remained icy calm and kicked the penalty unsustainably into the right corner.
Zulte Waregem made no attempt to make it 0-2 after the break. When Seraing was left with ten players after a daring tackle from Tshibuabua, Zulte Waregem seemed to have the win.
But Brüls swallowed a stupid second yellow card. Zulte Waregem got the lid on the nose: 5 minutes before the end, Poaty took a wonderful escape shot from just outside the box. Bossut had no chance.
A downer for Zulte Waregem, which cannot connect with Eupen and KV Kortrijk with a point.
Ciranni is disappointed: “Sour that they score from that stagnant phase”
“This would have been 3 gold points”, sighed Alessando Ciranni (Zulte Waregem). “But just like last week, we gave it away again at the end.”
Why did Zulte Waregem stop chasing the 0-2? “It was super difficult to play football on this field. And then there was the wind and the rain, not ideal conditions.”
“If you try to play football on this field, you run even more risk than not playing football.”
“We had the match under control for a long time. But we were not sharp enough in 1 stagnant phase. They score from that and that is very sour.”
Ciranni is hopeful. “Our game is much better after the winter break. There is progress. We just have to get the 3 points in 90 minutes.”
