Thibo Somers broke a two-month winless drought in the 65th minute on October 17, 2026, sparing Antwerp an embarrassing Croky Cup exit against third-tier club KSK Heist. His lone strike secured a 1-0 victory and a place in the round of 16, but the tense contest—highlighted by a shot off the goalpost from Heist’s Lukas Baert—did little to quiet mounting pressure at the Bosuil Stadium.
A Rare Victory After Months of Frustration
For a top-flight club, the narrow triumph offered precious little comfort. It marked Antwerp’s first victory since an August 15 win away against Kortrijk. Despite facing lower-division opponents, head coach Marvin Compper fielded one of his strongest lineups rather than rotating his squad, yet The Great Old still struggled to dominate and endured a nervy finish.
Tactical Rigidity Draws Sharp Criticism
The atmosphere around the club remains strained following a difficult run in domestic competition. Former Antwerp forward Patrick Goots launched a sharp critique of Compper, labeling the manager stubborn. Goots pointed directly to tactical rigidity as the root cause of the team’s ongoing struggles in the Jupiler Pro League.
Tactical Setup Leaves Michael Frey Isolated
The tactical setup has taken a heavy toll on the pitch. Goots singled out Compper’s insistence on deploying Xander Dierckx on the right flank, arguing that the player fails to reach the baseline and leaves striker Michael Frey isolated without service. Frey started the season in strong form, but the Swiss forward has now gone six matches without finding the back of the net. Goots told Gazet van Antwerpen that the ongoing dry spell has begun to weigh heavily on the player.
A Crucial Stretch Ahead for Compper
With pressure mounting, Antwerp now returns to league action with a critical fixture against Sporting Charleroi. That test will be followed by an away match against Cercle Brugge and a home encounter against Lommel. Goots emphasized that these matches represent a critical stretch where the club must secure points to move away from the bottom of the standings, as questions persist regarding how long club leadership will maintain confidence in their manager.
