Jupiler Pro League – matchday 26 – 17/02/24 – 20:46
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57′
Karim Mrabti
0 – 1
Karim Mrabti
57′
Antwerp lost its undefeated status at home on Saturday. A weak national champion went down against KV Mechelen after a goal by Kerim Mrabti. Toby Alderweireld had previously scored the 1-0, but slipped during his penalty and missed.
Antwerp – Mechelen in a nutshell:
- Key moment: Just before half time, Antwerp receives a questionable penalty at a crucial moment. However, Alderweireld cannot take advantage and misses his penalty while slipping.
- Man of the match: First he hit the post, but moments later it was the prize. Mrabti was the most dangerous man at Mechelen tonight.
- Striking: For the first time since March 19, 2023, Antwerp will lose another competition match at home.
- Striking (2): It was almost two years ago (February 20, 2022) that a Mechelen player was able to score again against Antwerp. After five failed attempts, today we won again.
Slipping Alderweireld
Both Antwerp and Mechelen started the year well, with 12 and 11 out of 15 respectively. However, that level of form did not translate onto the field. Both teams showed good intentions and good football at times, but in the zone of truth it was often a bit too sloppy.
Antwerp tried a number of times with a shot from distance. Ondrejka found Coucke’s fists and Doumbia and Ekkelenkamp saw their attempt fly narrowly wide.
For the visitors, Daam Foulon was able to push through on the left flank around the half hour mark. His shot even seemed to fly in, but Toby Alderweireld was alert and cleared the ball off the line.
Just before the break there was a bit of commotion at the Bosuil. During a corner kick, Vincent Janssen fell to the ground after a light blow from Slimani. Referee De Cremer did not hesitate and pointed to the spot. A strict decision, but certainly not a clear error.
Nevertheless, the people of Mechelen were not happy with the decision, but all seemed forgiven again when Aldereweireld slipped while kicking the penalty and aimed the ball wide of the goal.
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Mechelen appears to be more dangerous
After the break, it was not Antwerp, but Mechelen that came out of the dressing room best.
The visitors came out razor sharp on the counter a few times, partly thanks to Slimani and Kerim Mrabti.
Shortly after the break, the Swede found the post on a pass from the Algerian, but a few minutes later he scored in the same way. Mrabti kicked the ball hard into the roof of the goal.
Afterwards, Mechelen largely remained the most dangerous team. Antwerp did not get further than a few shots from the second line. With Foulon and substitute Lauberbach, Mechelen even came closer to a second goal.
In the absolute final, the visitors entered the trenches, but even then Mark van Bommel’s team could no longer change the score.
Mechelen takes 14 out of 18 and even sniffs PO-1. Antwerp does not get the first 12 out of 12 of the season and loses at home for the first time in almost a year.
Phase by phase
END: 0-1
End of the match! KV Mechelen deservedly took the three points on the Antwerp field and continued its momentum. Antwerp knows what losing at home is like and does not take the first 12 out of 12 this season.
Janssen takes a falling ball full on, but his shot is stopped by Bates. In any case, it seemed well aimed!
Already partying in the away section at the Bosuil. With this three-pointer, KV Mechelen even comes close to PO-1.
Mechelen is in the trenches and has to hold on for another three minutes.
Peter Vandenbempt
Antwerp presses and barely gives the ball away. At Mechelen it is now mainly about getting rid of balls.
7 – extra time
An extra 7 minutes will be added.
Butez goes down well
Butez makes another great save to keep Foulon from 0-2. On the other side, Antwerp scores another corner.
Mark van Bommel brings new signing Eliot Matazo between the lines for the first time. Can he still mean anything?
A new Mechelen counter, and danger again! This time Lauberbach comes close to scoring, but the German hits the side netting.
We play for another fifteen minutes, but Alderweireld is already taking up position in the front line. Is he still guiding his team to a result?
In terms of real concrete opportunities, Mechelen has created more than Antwerp.
Peter Vandenbempt
Ejuke shows his creativity and speed, but buys very little with it for the time being. Almost all his heels and steps are not pure enough.
Not an unmeritorious effort by Bataille. The defender sees his long shot fly over a meter.
Antwerp occasionally appears dangerous, but for the time being Mechelen has everything under control. Now the team can completely wait for the counter.
Antwerp home reputation
Not unimportant: the last time Antwerp lost at home in the competition dates back to last season. On March 19, 2023, Charleroi won at the Bosuil.
It was the razor-sharp counters of Slimani and Mrabti that defeated Antwerp
Peter Vandenbempt
Mrabti makes it 0-1!
A new counter for Mechelen and this time it’s worth it! Mrabti kicks the ball hard into the roof of the goal. Butez must give in.
Outside of pole!
Instant excitement. Great counter from the Mechelen team. Slimani does very well and serves Mrabti who arrives at the far post. Butez is not involved, but the Swede aims the ball against the post!
We’ve started it again!
Rust: 0-0
That was also the last achievement of a strange first half in which the sting was in the tail.
Alderweireld is slipping away!
No clear error, so the penalty is simply given. Alderweireld stands at the spot for a long time and slips completely away during his penalty! How sad for the captain, and what a relief for Slimani and Mechelen!
Alderweireld completely slips when kicking the penalty.
1 – extra time
An extra minute of time is added.
Penalty!
Just before half-time, Antwerp scores a corner kick. In the sixteen Janssen suddenly goes down after an elbow from Slimani. De Cremer immediately points to the dot. Strict decision! What does the VAR do?
Alderweireld keeps the Antwerp nets clean
Foulon gets the ball and quickly advances to the sixteen. The full-back continues well and takes a swing, but Alderweireld is alert and turns the ball off the line!
Doumbia from far away
Doumbia also lashes out. His shot from about 25 meters is slightly better aimed, but still goes wide by a meter.
Another chance for Antwerp. Janssen keeps track of the ball and sees Ekkelenkamp charging towards him. The midfielder takes a swing, but sees his shot fly two meters wide of the goal.
Bill Antonio squeezes past Owen Wijndal.
There is some commotion on the Bosuil. The ball is lost a little too much.
Peter Vandenbempt
Mrabti has to hurry to get to the back line to kick a cross. That works, but he seems to twist his ankle while kicking. The Swede swallows the pain. Can he continue? Pflücke is warming up.
A dangerously bouncing ball bounces between Ondrejka and Ekkelenkamp. Both players want to kick, but disturb each other, allowing Coucke to simply pick it up.
It is anything but the combinations and controls. Both teams play football smoothly and neatly. It is only in the zone of truth that things often go wrong.
First shot on target
Coucke’s fists were needed on Ondrejka’s shot. The Swede squeezes in, but his attempt was a little too central.
We are looking at an unexciting opening phase.
Peter Vandenbempt
Mechelen also scores a corner, thanks to Slimani. Cobbaut wants to head, but is interrupted enough by Van Den Bosch.
The home team advances. A flashy Ondrejka scores the first corner. That is easily eliminated by Bates.
First goal attempt of the match. Ondrejka sees how his slider from outside the box is easy prey for Coucke.
In Antwerp there is still some searching. The home team taps the ball around and occasionally sends a long ball to the front line. For the time being still with too many impurities.
KV Mechelen immediately takes the initiative. It is clear that Besnik Hasi’s men are playing with confidence.
There are the players! Referee Wesli De Cremer will kick off within a few minutes.
We will have to play very well to get anything here. It will be a good test to see where we are as a team.
Besnik Hasi (trainer KV Mechelen)
Wanted: a Mechelen goal against Antwerp
Stunning statistics. It is almost two years to the day since a KV Mechelen player was able to score again against Antwerp in the competition. On February 20, 2022, it was Nikola Storm in an away win over De Bosuil (1-2). Since then, Antwerp has kept a clean sheet five times. Mechelen was able to score in the Supercup final last year, but that goal came after an own goal by Ritchie De Laet.
Foreshadowing
With 12 and 11 out of 15 in the competition respectively, both Antwerp and Mechelen are in excellent form. At the Bosuil, Mark van Bommel’s team can even achieve a 12 out of 12 for the first time this season.
Besnik Hasi brings Slimani to the start for the first time. The Algerian replaces Lauberbach.
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The home team’s line-up. Mark van Bommel does not make any changes. Mercenary and young Devil Eliot Matazo is on the bench for the first time.
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Antwerp is a team with few weaknesses, which is difficult to beat at home. We are on our guard, but we are also in shape. And we have also done well in most of the top matches this season. We believe in it.
KVM-coach Besnik Hasi
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Eliot Matazo trains with the group. Whether he will make minutes will depend on the course of the match. Integrating it into our way of playing football is the next step.
Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel
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It would be good to get 12 out of 12. That means you win four times in a row. Although our goal remains the same: to reach the Champions’ play-offs and the final of the Croky Cup.
Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel
Antwerp hosts KV Mechelen
De Bosuil is the setting for the match between Antwerp and KV Mechelen tonight. Follow the match here phase by phase from 8:45 PM.
2024-02-17 21:23:00
#Poor #Antwerp #suffers #home #defeat #Mechelen #expensive #penalty #Alderweireld
