The course of the Belgian promises under Gill Swerts has been eerily similar every time so far.
Our U21 do dominate against opponents of much inferior quality, but this has not yet led to a goal celebration. In Malta, the Belgians created more real opportunities than they did against Kazakhstan a month ago.
Before halftime, Stassin headed the best opportunity against the post. De Winter and Spileers also had excellent opportunities with their heads in the first 45 minutes. Only a goal failed to materialize.
That was also the case in the first half hour after half-time – against a football dwarf like Malta, that really shouldn’t be allowed, right?
KAA Gent talent Malick Fofana showed a lot of initiative, but the Belgians lacked killer instinct in the zone of truth.
Fortunately, Swerts has a rabbit’s foot. His name: Kazeem Olaigbe, who moved from Southampton to Cercle this summer. Just like against Kazakhstan, the wing attacker broke the spell.
But not everything was the same as a month ago.
Because now the young Belgians would not win by the smallest margin. In the final minutes, Arne Engels wonderfully blasted a free kick past the home goalkeeper: 0-2.
Not a flashy start for the U21, but a flawless one.
The line-up of the Belgian U21: Vandevoordt; Van der Brempt (46′ Siquet), De Winter, Spileers, Rommens; Vranckx, English, Matazo (77′ Stroeykens); Fofana (84′ Mbangula), Stassin (62′ Olaigbe), Oyen (62′ Sylla).
