Nicolas Gilles, a new Walhinois coach not really spoiled for his baptism of fire. “We knew we were going to the title candidate, with some absentees and in difficult playing conditions. Small errors quickly led to goals and we struggled. They have qualities that we don’t have , they are above us in many areas and they played better.”
The second act of the match is less attractive and we have to wait until the last five minutes for the scorer to come alive again, the substitutes Thiry and Simon in turn scoring the fifth and sixth goals for the locals just after Decroës n saved the honor of Walhinois who were more inspired in the second half but not very concrete. For his part, a less prolific Ophain managed his four-goal advantage well, Pirotte, Simon, Gillis and Thiry twice forgetting to accentuate it before a more lively end to the match and a final score which cannot be discussed. “The players worked well during the break and they are rewarded for it. Physically and technically, we were on top, the substitutes also did the job and it was the victory we needed to start the second round”termine Romuald Lecocq.
The technique
Arbitrator: Stéphane Caudron.
Yellow cards: Hannon, Gillis, Crauwels, Decroës, Frys, Mapala, Meys.
Buts: Pirotte (1-0 and 2-0, 13′ and 19′), Bonanno (3-0 and 4-0, 35′ and 41′), Decroës (4-1, 87′), Simon (5-1, 88′), Thiry (6-1, 90′).
OPHAN: Hannon, Steens (85′ Brichart), Di Sciacca, Dolmen, Crauwels (75′ Baldé), Pedroso, Bonanno, Dos Santos, Gillis, Huby (67′ Thiry), Pirotte (75′ Simon).
WALHAIN: Detry, Kalonda, Vandeplas, Duhem, El Youssofi, Mapala, Willaert, Somerling (79′ Saadi), Frys (46′ Ngalamulume), Decroës, Meys (73′ Ebertian).
