RWDM won 2-1 against Zulte Waregem. Shuto Abe gave victory to Molenbeekois at the end of the match.
This evening, the Machtens Stadium hosted a match between two candidates for the D1B title. With each 20 points on the clock (just like the RAAL), the RWDM and Zulte Waregem crossed swords in a duel announced as revealing the forces present.
A perfect opportunity to forget the elimination in the Cup on the Molenbeek side. Yannick Ferrera’s men started strong. After less than five minutes, the Molenbeek supporters warmed up with a face-off won by the goalkeeper of Zulte Waregem…and then with a goal.
A lively first quarter of an hour
Found with his back to goal at the corner of the large rectangle after a bright opening from Islamdine Halifa, Ilyes Ziani turned around and rolled in without even looking at the target for the opener. The permanent permutations of the RWDM put Zulte Waregem in difficulty, the game taking place mainly in the visitors’ part of the field.
Visitors that the Brussels residents themselves put back into the match. On a corner conceded very clumsily and on which Zulte had plenty of time to combine, Jelle Vossen emerged to equalize. The Essevee scorer conveyed his disillusionment from last weekend, where his 90 minutes spent on the bench had deprived him of his 600th match despite the tributes received, by using his flair to get ahead of the tricks of the Molenbeek defense (14th, 1-1).
Enough to slow down the RWDM in its momentum. Because apart from a tumble from Junior Mansoni concluded by an off-target strike from Noah Dodeigne found on the opposite side, the rhythm of the first half quickly dropped.
Zulte Waregem took over the second act better, directly involving Bill Lathouwers. The danger became clearer with a long ball to isolate Jeppe Erenbjerg against the local goalkeeper. But the Swede cannoned above, hitting his own supporters (51st).
Stung, the RWDM raised its level to create several chances, but each time found goalkeeper Van der Gouw in its path, if not its defense, to counter successive dangers.
But as the pace dropped again, RWDM emerged as the final ten minutes approached. A saving goal to be attributed as much to Halifa and his little shift behind the defense as to Shuto Abe and his incisive call (2-1).
The RWDM did the good thing of the weekend, inflicting its first defeat on Zulte Waregem since…the very first day of competition. Yannick Ferrera’s men take a three-point lead over their direct opponent and begin the weekend alone in the lead while awaiting the result of the RAAL.
