MECHELEN –
Winning against Sint-Truiden remains an impossible task for KV Mechelen this season. Hits from Bates and Bassette seemed to put the yellow-red on their way to the three-pointer, but Ito (2x) and Koita ensured a true remontada: 2-3. Leader AA Gent is in danger of falling to four points.
The first day of the Europe Play-offs had caused a break in the rankings last weekend. KV Mechelen and Sint-Truiden both won and thus joined leader AA Gent. Provided a win, Malinwa could put the Limburgers on six points and thus make a mental blow in the battle for the group win.
At Kavé, Slimani relieved Bates on the penalty bench, allowing Hairemans to take his place again and Konaté – last week’s match winner at Leuven – moved to the bench. STVV coach Fink mixed up his team in no fewer than six places. Of the seven midfielders and attackers who kicked off in Westerlo last week, only Mathias Delorge was allowed to remain standing. Steuckers, who scored two goals last week, had to settle for a place on the bench.
Only Schoofs can threaten
The fans present were given a short study round and stood up for the first time after seven minutes. A first attempt by Schoofs was blocked, a second shot by the Limburger was knocked out of goal by Suzuki. Two minutes later, Foulon was unable to reach a cross enough to worry the Japanese American. On the other side, Fujita tried in vain to reach Kaya. The small flare-up quickly fizzled out.
Salvation breaks Truienaar’s spirits
We had to wait until a little over halfway through the first half for something to happen again. Pflücke curled a free kick dangerously in front of goal, a surprised Suzuki saw the leather slip through his legs and Van Helden was just able to prevent the 1-0 in front of Garananga. The young defender hit the post with his thigh, after which he landed hard on his head. End of match, enter Wolke Janssens. The match ebbed and flowed towards half time, Koita threatened again with a long free kick. More than five minutes before coffee, STVV came away two more times very well. First, Smets deflected Schoofs’ shot against the crossbar. On the subsequent corner kick, Suzuki kept Bates from scoring the opening goal in extremis. He couldn’t do that when the Scot was quick to push a brilliant free kick from Mrabti, which hit the post, into the net a few seconds before half-time. Despite only 34 percent possession, yellow-red went into the dressing room with a deserved lead.
Three crossbars, pre-assist Coucke
After Cobbaut made it 2-0, KV Mechelen got away well on the other side. The deep-sent Koita embarrassed Coucke for a moment, but luckily the ball ended up on the post. The approaching Kaya was too surprised and he also hit the post. Phew, said the more than 9,000 Kakkers present. Suddenly it rained opportunities, because Malinwa also targeted the obstruction through Hairemans. It turned out to be a postponement of execution for the visitors, because after a long ball from Coucke, Hairemans ran away. The Deurne native made a controlled pass to the Bassette who was sprinting along and he did not miss. The knife stabbed into the wound, but the final final blow did not follow. After an excellent pass from Schoofs, Foulon met an attentive Suzuki.
In the meantime, Fink had brought three fresh forces into the fight and two of them immediately hurt Malinwa. Steuckers found the infiltrating Ito – completely lost sight of by Mukau and Schoofs – and Coucke had no chance. The home team was upset and the Canaries monopolized the lead. And they also did something with it, because when Koita moored from over twenty meters, yellow-red had a deja vu. Coucke was nailed to the ground and, just like at Den Dreef, he gave up a double lead. It was fortunate that their goalkeeper was alert to another low shot from Ito. KV Mechelen wasted no time and looked for a third goal, but it was substitute Zahiroleslam who decided against Coucke’s next chance.
Ito provides a cold shower
When Delorge was allowed to land alone at the far post, the alarm bells from Mechelen went off again, but Coucke miraculously saved with his leg. It turned out to be a delay, because when star Ito cut inside, he dropped the 2-3 in the far corner. The Truiense substitutes caused a real turnaround at Achter de Kazerne and saddled KV Mechelen with a serious hangover. STVV is thus next to yellow-red, which could see the deficit to AA Gent increase to four points.
Foto: Isosport
2024-04-05 20:48:00
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