Union against Charleroi, Wednesday February 11 at 8:30 PM
Croky Cup – matchday 1 – 04/02/26 – 20:33
A measure for nothing. The first leg between Charleroi and Union in the semi-finals of the cup ended in a scoreless draw. The most important fact of the game was the injury to goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. The finalist will be decided next week in the Duden Park.
The tension remained mainly subliminal in the Stade du Pays de Charleroi.
Both teams seemed to be calculating too much in their heads and not enough freedom in their feet. Union mainly looked for mistakes, the home team had more ball possession but did not do much with it.
The game may have been full of opportunistic moments in transition, but it was rarely high-level football.
The most important moment of the evening was not long in coming. After twenty minutes, goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen had to leave injured. Chambaere came in and Union was forced to reorganize.
But that didn’t break the match either, just some extra caution.
Union had the best chances before half time. Promise David almost took advantage of sloppy defending, but cracked his shot. A little later, Van de Perre did better, until the post saved Charleroi.
The home team responded with some pressure and a few long-range attempts, but there too they lacked sharpness.
Appearances are deceiving
After the break the match dropped off completely again. Charleroi started with a double chance, but after that it became especially messy. Lots of ball loss, little pace and hardly any completed attacks.
Even the most talked about moment came not from an opportunity, but from a feint maneuver. Chambaere grabbed the calf while Union was down ten, a handy timeout moment to replace Khalaili – who was stretchered away.
It typified a second half in which cleverness often overtook daring.
In the end Charleroi tried to start, encouraged by the crowd, but it didn’t go any further than a dangerous counter. Chambaere kept it out of its target and that was all.
So 0-0, after a first match without much going on. Next week in the Dudenpark it will be decided who can go to the final.
Read/watch the reactions from the competition here:
Kevin Van Den Kerkhof (Charleroi):
“We are a bit disappointed, because we would have liked to get an advantage for our own fans. But we remain competitive. Look, Union is a strong block and is good in defense. It is a shame that we missed that goal, but we also have to remember the positive. We did not really get into any problems ourselves. We tried to force something in the end to get a good starting position. Anyway, everything is still playable. We are going to do everything we can and work hard to reach that final. Whether it is more important than the top Get 6 in the competition? We’re going for both goals.”
Kamiel Van de Perre (Union):
“I am satisfied that we kept it at 0-0 against a strong Charleroi, although I think we might have scored. I could have scored too. I was shocked myself when I got possession of the ball in the large rectangle. I am not a striker, but such balls have to be thrown in as well. I will still have to learn from our attackers. It is a shame. You saw that both Charleroi and we are good at defending. We unconsciously left the ball to them, but everything was good. We will do everything next week We want to win the cup and play champions, I dare say that.”
Related:
END: 0-0
A measure for nothing. The first leg between Charleroi and Union in the semi-finals of the cup ended in a scoreless draw. The most important fact of the game was the injury to goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. The finalist will be decided next week in the Duden Park.
The ending is for Schoofs
Then still an ultimate opportunity for Union. The visitors drop one more ball in the large rectangle and it falls just at the feet of Schoofs. The substitute turns away well, but then kicks too weakly. No more posture.
Will we still get a goal? Charleroi is still trying and for Union it is mainly about survival, but is it enough?
Final offensive Charleroi?
The home crowd stands up for a moment. Charleroi delivers another good counter. Van Den Kerkhof eventually plays the ball sharply in front of the goal to substitute Blum, but he sees his deviation well parried by the lively Chambaere.
Union actually had no real chance in the second half. I can’t say that the level is still great.
Peter Vandenbempt on Radio 1
Chambaere’s smile says a lot: the Union goalkeeper can continue as normal.
Oh well, they don’t like to see this happen at Union. Suddenly second goalkeeper Chambaere also falls. He grabs his calf and asks for care. Interesting detail: there is no third goalkeeper on the bench.
Although it could also be an orchestrated act, because Union currently has 10 on the field and wants to make a replacement. Khalaili is already being carried away on a stretcher.
Penalty?
At Charleroi they are now shouting for a penalty. For a classic phase: Khalaili wants to shoot the ball away in the large rectangle with conviction, but Scheidler just puts his foot in front of it. The striker goes down, but who got to the ball first? The referee and VAR waved the incident aside (for the time being).
A strong pinball moment in the large rectangle of Union – it perfectly symbolizes the dip in quality in this match. No one can get the ball away from the home team, but Union can’t do anything with the hot potato either. It remains just some bumbling.
No, we don’t get much excitement in the second half either. Charleroi’s good start did not last long.
Peter Vandenbempt on Radio 1
Sykes rapids
There’s Union again. Sykes plays the ball to Partis, who immediately uses his first control as acceleration. He slips past his opponent and slides the ball in front of the goal towards the Fuseini who was walking along, but Charleroi’s defenders are back just in time.
