KVC Westerlo – Standard de Liège

The final home match of the season is scheduled for this evening at 8:30 PM. Our Kemphanen will face direct Europe Play-offs rivals Standard Liège. If they still want a chance of winning Play-off 2, all three points must stay at ’t Kuipje.

KVC Westerlo

Last Saturday’s 0–1 away win at Charleroi may have been somewhat fortunate, but it was no less welcome. Thanks to those three points, KVC Westerlo is fully back in the race for overall victory in the Europe Play-offs. Coach Charaï pointed out the differences between his side and the opposition: “There are many things. I thought our pressing was very good. Because of that, we created several situations where we should have done more,” he told DAZN cameras. “Charleroi didn’t have a shot on target in the first half but were mainly dangerous from set pieces. In the second half, they did hit the post, where we got away with it.”

It was clear on Saturday: the team that scored first would win the match. Then came that counterattack in the 84th minute. “That was fantastic. It came at exactly the right moment,” Charaï said with a smile. The coach also emphasized the role of debutants Destan and Laalaoui in the winning goal. “I’m very happy for the players who came on and have struggled with injuries for a long time. They came on and helped decide the match.” Enis Destan also spoke to Gazet van Antwerpen after the match: “It’s been a difficult few months during my rehabilitation from knee problems. I’m very happy with my debut. I brought energy and intensity.” But he wants even more. “These were three important points. We remain in the race for European football. We still have two matches left to make this dream come true.”

KVC Westerlo currently sits third with 33 points, just one point behind leaders KRC Genk and Standard Liège. A victory this evening is therefore crucial. Coach Charaï has a fully fit squad available: Jungdal, Van Langendonck, Annell, Lapage, Kimura, Sayyadmanesh, Patrão, Laalaoui, Sakamoto,  Smekens, Reynolds, Mbamba, Neustädter, Haspolat, Saito, Van den Keybus, Bayram, Piedfort, Alcócer, Ferri en Destan.

Standard de Liège

Standard has 34 points and shares the lead with KRC Genk in these Europe Play-offs. Last weekend, Les Rouches played out a 0–0 home draw against Genk in a top clash where both teams could have taken a major step toward winning Play-off 2. Because of that draw, Standard and Genk are once again feeling the pressure from KVC Westerlo. Coach Vincent Euvrard will be without injured players Homawoo, Nielsen and El Hankouri on Tuesday. Players to watch for the Liège side include: goalkeeper Epolo (8 clean sheets), captain and right-back Fossey (1 goal, 2 assists), wingers Abid (2 goals, 5 assists) and Saïd (7 goals, 5 assists).

Coach Euvrard used a 5-4-1 formation in the previous match with the following players: Epolo, Mortensen, Lawrence, Bates, Hautekiet, Fossey, Abid, Karamoko, Ilaimaharitra, Saïd, Eckert Ayensa.

Our previous encounter

The previous meeting with Standard dates back to matchday two of these play-offs, when KVC Westerlo traveled to Liège. The Kemphanen took the lead after just ten minutes. Goalkeeper Pirard failed to hold onto a long-range shot from Piedfort, allowing Ferri to score the rebound for 0–1. Standard responded with plenty of aggression in duels but failed to find the net. Saïd missed their biggest opportunity by firing into the side netting with an open goal at his mercy.

After halftime, Standard kept pushing forward but once again lacked efficiency. Despite a red card for defender Homawoo, the Liège side fought their way back into the match. With fifteen minutes remaining, substitute Nkada made it 1–1 with a brilliant individual effort. However, KVC Westerlo had the final say. The Kemphanen had been dangerous from set pieces throughout the match, and in the 85th minute that paid off. After a corner from Haspolat, Bayram flicked the ball on at the near post, and substitute Ourega bundled it into the net at the far post. That late goal secured all three points for KVC Westerlo in Liège.

Did you know… 

• Ferri is the KVC Westerlo player with the most duels won this season (257). At Standard, Hautekiet has won the most duels (167).
• Standard has won only one of the last five meetings with KVC Westerlo. That victory came on matchday eight of this season, when the Liège side won 0–2 at ’t Kuipje.
• Standard scores more easily away from home (26 goals) than at Stade Maurice Dufrasne (18 goals).
• From June 11 to July 19, a summer bar will pop up in front of ’t Kuipje. Bar Yäz combines summer vibes with football, including World Cup matches on a big screen. “Yäz” is also the Turkish word for summer.

Referee

Erik Lambrechts will officiate this evening’s match. He will be assisted by Jo De Weirdt and Mathias Hillaert. Klaas Clerckx will serve as the fourth official, while Brent Staessens will be responsible for VAR.