KVC Westerlo – KV Mechelen
Are we heading toward an unscripted drama in the race for next season's Conference League ticket? It certainly looks like it. We're halfway through this play-off competition, with five matchdays remaining — and the bottom team in the standings is just four points behind leader Charleroi.
KVC Westerlo
It was another dramatic night at the AFAS Stadium — shots off the post, missed penalties, red cards, goal-line clearances… all the ingredients for a match filled with emotion. Fortunately for our Kemphanen, most of those moments belonged to our opponent, who will no doubt be determined to take revenge in this weekend's return match.
A word to the wise: a forewarned Kemphaan is worth two.
Key takeaways from the midweek match:
- Andreas Jungdal was named Man of the Match with a rating of 8.7. He made 5 saves, including a penalty stop from veteran Geoffrey Hairemans.
- Luka Vuskovic had the most touches of the ball (83). He scored an unfortunate own goal on the half-hour mark but redeemed himself with an assist to Isa Sakamoto for the 1–2 lead.
- Tuur Rommens made the most tackles of any player on the field.
- Captain Dogucan Haspolat registered his 7th assist of the season.
- Thomas Van Den Keybus scored with a header — a nice early birthday gift for himself. Tommie turns 24 on April 25.
- Top scorer Matija Frigan now has 12 goals across all competitions. He still has 5 games to match his record of 15 goals in the 2022/23 season with HNK Rijeka.
- Isa Sakamoto played on the wing for the first time this season instead of in a central role, but that didn't stop him from scoring his fourth goal in 14 appearances.
- Amando Lapage came on at halftime and turned out to be the most accurate passer on the pitch, completing 98% of his passes.
KV Mechelen
KV Mechelen has now lost two matches in a row in these play-offs. Head coach Fred Vanderbiest will surely be doing everything he can to avoid a third straight defeat and will be eager to see his team finish the game with 11 men on the pitch.
He's no stranger to 't Kuipje, having visited with three different clubs. He coached Oostende here four times and made one appearance each with Cercle Brugge and KV Mechelen. Of those 6 matches, he won just once (with Oostende on April 25, 2015), lost 4 times, and drew once.
Goalkeeper Nacho Miras made his first start in the midweek game — reportedly pre-planned, as a reward for his strong performance in training and to give him a chance to play in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard impressed with some great reflex saves, but Ortwin De Wolf remains the first-choice keeper and is expected to return between the posts this Saturday.
A standout performer was 24-year-old Swedish midfielder Fredrik Hammar. He hit the post and won the most duels in the match (12).
We expect that Tuesday's substitutes, Storm and Mrabti, will start in the lineup this time.
Referee
The 27-year-old Bert Verbeke will officiate his second match in the Jupiler Pro League. Earlier this season, he took charge of 15 games in the Challenger Pro League, one in the Croky Cup, and one in the Dutch Eerste Divisie (Keuken Kampioendivisie).
Two weeks ago, he made his top-division debut during the 1–1 draw between Dender and Standard.
Now he's tasked with managing this Antwerp provincial derby.
Text and statistics: Peter Boons
