VSAmeron Puertas (48th, 87th) and Mohammed Amoura (56th) gave the Union its first 0-3 success in the playoffs for the title away to Antwerp. After 5 days, the Brussels residents are third with 38 points, one unit behind Club Bruges (2nd) and three behind Anderlecht, leader. Antwerp is 6th (29 points).
Despite the bad period, the two coaches decided to trust their group. Mark Van Bommel found Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and sent Jacob Ondrejka to the bench. At Union, Alexander Blessin replaced injured Loic Lapoussin with Henok Teklab.
The Brussels residents tried to create a surprise with Alessio Castro-Montes (1st), Gustaf Nilsson (6th) and Amoura (9th) but the Antwerp defense defused all these attempts. As the Union was wary of Chidera Ejuke’s speed and Antwerp was very cautious, there was little spectacle. The visitors still inherited an opportunity but Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who had repelled a shot from Mathias Rasmussen into the feet of Nilsson, managed to take the ball from the Swedish striker’s feet (43rd).
The second half could only be more lively and Puertas quickly confirmed it by lodging the ball at the near post with a curling shot from a free kick (48th, 0-1). The Spaniard continued his work by launching Amoura, who scored his first goal since February 18 (56th, 0-2). Finally, Puertas signed a double with a flat foot on a cross from Castro-Montes, who will be suspended on Sunday for the revenge (87th, 0-3).
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