It was anything but obvious after three days, so you have to remember that. The Belgian vice-champion had one point out of nine and was far from the top 24. True to his values, he did not give up, snatched a point against Roma then had three consecutive successes.
This Thursday is not the most beautiful, football-wise, largely because of a pitch unworthy of Europe, but it bears the Union seal, which once again demonstrated its courage and its fighting spirit. Two qualities that had already seen him overthrow Braga just over two years ago, in another 2-1 victory written into RUSG’s European history.
“Little” at your discretion
This victory also bears the mark of Sébastien Pocognoli. Faced with an avalanche of absences, T1 made the right choices and did better than tinkering to compose an eleven which prevented the Portuguese from playing. Above all, he dared to reshuffle the cards at half-time, while Braga was leading. It was undeserved, but El Ouazzani punished the Union on the only half-chance in the entire first half. This goal was largely attributable to Sykes, author of a big placement error, by zoning out and leading his entire defense into a fatal imbalance, in the end (17th).
Even though he only had two outfield players from his A core on the bench, Pocognoli dared to make a change at the break, so, starting Rodriguez in place of a defender, Leysen, and switching Fuseini and Niang to the flanks .
Ivanovic man of the match, Moris decisive: the notes after Union – Braga
A double change with immediate impact since Niang served Ivanovic from the 50th minute. The Croatian striker is definitely an outstanding scorer since he did not miss this very first dangerous ball, which he sent from the left into the back of the net (1-1). There was almost only one left for the Union in an almost one-sided match. Almost because Moris pulled out a triple save. The goalkeeper was once again decisive in stoppage time, to save the victory.
-Between the two moments, Ivanovic, again, had put the Union in control with a very good action. Again from the left. The Croatian has scored the Union’s last four goals in the European Cup.
The summer recruit continues to grow and will have a new challenge next Thursday at Ibrox. On the other hand, it will be without Machida, who did the irreparable thing by swinging his elbow when it had already been yellowed.
Sébastien Pocognoli will once again have to cope without good people since Burgess will also be suspended.
But T1 Liège has a week to think about all that. With less pressure to qualify. Who would have believed it at the end of October?
