Martin Delavallée firstly allowed Charleroi to let the storm pass and return to the locker room with a parity score. However, the Zebras did not take advantage of their strong moment and paid for it in cash. And, this time, Sporting’s heroic third goalkeeper could do nothing.
At the edge of the red zone, Sporting Charleroi could not miss out on the turf of a Cercle de Bruges also flanked in dirty sheets, in penultimate place in the championship. For this meeting and due to injuries to Koné and Defourny, Rik de Mil fields his third goalkeeper, the young Martin Delavallée (20 years old), who is playing his first Jupiler Pro League match. He will be, throughout the ninety minutes, the best Zebra on the pitch.
Without Delavallée, Charleroi would have lost all hope even before the break
The first period is entirely to the advantage of the locals. Dabbagh forgot the ball in the rectangle, Sow found Delanghe with a header, but the rest of the chances were to Cercle’s credit, with a confusing Alan Minda at the helm. The South American first came up against Ousou (28th), while Augusto had completely missed his face-to-face (22nd).
The Charleroi Guardian Festival then begins. In front of Nazinho (34th) and Minda (39th, see photo below), he made two high-class saves to keep his team in the match. The score is zero and blank at rest, Rik de Mil and the amorphous Carolos can clearly thank Delavallée.
Charleroi does not take advantage of its highlight and is punished by the Cercle
Charleroi starts the second half with much better intentions. Aware of their chance to always be on par with their opponent, the Zebras step on the accelerator via Zagence, who serves Mbenza magnificently twice. The former Standard player first misses his transition (50th), before seeing Nazinho make a magnificent defensive return (55th). Well served by Nzita, Heymans, for his part, was unable to redirect his header (51st), nor find a partner on his subtle deviation at the near post (63rd).
In the second half, Charleroi played much better, but forgot something: taking advantage of their chances. And in football, it’s often paid in cash. Having just entered the game, last season’s top scorer, Kevin Denkey, took advantage of a good ball from Felipe Augusto, who won his duel against Cheick Keita, to open the scoring (1-0, 68th). Intransigent since the start of the meeting and out of work since the restart, Martin Delavallée can do nothing about it.
The lock was blown, Charleroi broke down. Le Cercle has found the path to the net, and will continue to use it. Minda’s corner is well boxed by Delavallée, but Hannes Van der Bruggen, after a little control, from outside the rectangle, takes over from the right and makes the break, while Rik de Mil was preparing to make a triple change at offensive vocation (2-0, 73rd).
Mass is said. Charleroi has now not won in seven matches in all competitions and concedes another defeat to Cercle, its fifth in a row. The Zebras, 13th, are now in play-downs, tied with Kortrijk and Sint-Truiden. Le Cercle moved up slightly and occupies 11th place, with as many points as Louvain.
