The crisis was forgotten for a while at KV Oostende. After a new stunt against RWDM, the troubled coastal team is actually in the semi-finals of the Belgian Cup. Henderson first punished an error by goalkeeper Hubert and on the hour mark Laes made it 2-0. Will the KVO soon be able to perform a miracle towards the final despite the misery?
KV Ostend – RWDM in a nutshell:
Key moment: In the final phase RWDM comes terribly close to the goal of a draw. Gueye beat goalkeeper Gabriel to Dwomoh’s cross, but Medley managed to deflect the header just short of the goal line. The 2-1 remains, as does a perhaps crazy final phase.
Man of the Match: Brent Laes once again made the struggling KVO fans coo with joy. On the hour mark, he unleashed a wonderful high kick into the goal to make it 2-0. The culmination of his strong game, in which he let off steam.
Remarkable: for three consecutive years KV Oostende’s cup history ended in the round of 16. Now the coastal team is in the semi-finals, just like five years ago. Then they only lost on penalties to KAA Gent.
Hubert flatters his former team
It recently became painfully clear that the American-flagged KVO vessel is taking on water from all sides. Last weekend the fans of the coastal team even held a symbolic funeral. Interim coach Michiel Jonckheere decided to quit and president Frank Dierckens also resigned with pain in his heart.
Not ideal circumstances for the debut of KVO’s newest coach Jamath Shoffner. After a weak opening phase, the American was probably as shocked as everyone else when KV Oostende took the lead out of nowhere just before the half-hour mark. Thanks to Uberto. The former KVO goalkeeper completely misinterpreted Henderson’s harmless long-range shot.
A boon for the troubled KVO, a minus for RWDM. The visitors also failed to raise their level after conceding a goal. The Brussels team did not go beyond the wild shots of Camara and Gueye.
Laes brings KVO’s tormented fans into ecstasy
With substitutes Sanchez and Mboup in the team, RWDM showed a different face at the start of the second half. The power play ended with a dangerous shot from Mboup, but Gabriel went to the floor.
Ostend did not succumb to the pressure and struck again mercilessly on the hour mark. After a nice one-two on the right wing, Decoene, who breaks through, throws the ball well and Laes scores the 2-0 on goal.
The RWDM then revealed itself again to be a chaotic mess, without cohesion. On the other hand, it was Hubert who had to demonstrate his skill on the attempts of D’Haese and Medley. However, he became exciting for KVO in the final phase when Gueye got the better of Gabriël, but Medley managed to deflect the header just short of the line.
No equalizing goals and therefore no more crazy final phase. Ostend did not miss out on qualification and, just like five years ago, are in the cup semi-finals. A great sporting boost in the midst of the financial crisis. There was no doubt about the explosion of joy at Diaz Arena.
Phase by phase
END
Amidst all the financial problems, a great sporting boost for KV Oostende. The coastal team is pulling off a new cup stunt and is now eliminating a third first division team after Eupen and Racing Genk with RWDM. Just like five years ago, it is in the cup semi-finals. KVO will compete against OH Leuven or Antwerp.
The spoils for Ostend have been received. Laes even pushes for the home team’s third goal, but Hubert is there.
Medley scores the equalizer off the line!
It suddenly becomes very hot for Ostend. Gueye catches Gabriel from Dwomoh’s cross, but Medley manages to deflect the header just before the goal line. At RWDM they saw the ball over the line, but De Cremer did not comment. Gueye even receives a yellow card for protesting.
Ostend returns. Wylin lunges and lashes out after a nice chest check, but his attempt ends up in the net.
Koné also takes the field at RWDM, but for the moment all the changes made by coach Caçapa have no effect. Ostend is getting ever closer to a place in the cup semi-finals.
The countdown has begun for everyone who cares about Ostend. At RWDM there is no coherence in chaotic chaos. Something always goes wrong in the interaction.
Tom Boudeweel on Radio 1
Yellow for Camara
Camara takes down Berte. He also received a yellow card.
Is there anything left in the RWDM tank? Time is slowly running out for the visitors. Aside from Mboup’s dangerous shot, RWDM were also underpowered in the second half.
Another fresh force for Ostend. Musayev enters between the lines, D’Haese can rest.
Perez is benched in Ostend. He is replaced by Atanga.
Yellow for Romildo
Medley continues to make life difficult for RWDM with his cutting actions. Romildo only manages to block it incorrectly and receives a yellow card.
Even with this double advantage, Ostend continues to opt for the offensive. Medley puts the turbo on the left wing and finally launches an attack from an acute angle. Hubert remains still.
Ostend has now really understood how it works. Hubert has to release the ball on a strong hit from D’Haese. In the second half Perez heads the ball over. Is Ostend on track for a new cup stunt?
Laes scores 2-0!
Look at that, it’s really 2-0! Decoene continues on the right and brings the ball well in front of goal. Laes hits the ball beautifully, high into the goal. At RWDM the cups go down.
There’s a lot more momentum in the second half, especially because RWDM is playing in a higher gear. Gueye sends Mboup into the goal alone, but goalkeeper Gabriel is quicker to the ball.
Ostend breaks away from the pressure for a moment and scores another corner themselves. The coastal team can keep the ball in the team for a while, without being dangerous.
Mboup tries again, this time with a ball placed from the edge of the area. His attempt was successful, but the Senegalese entered in an excellent manner.
RWDM is beating the attack drum. This is necessary even after that dramatically negative first half.
Tom Boudeweel on Radio 1
Gabriel prevents the equalizer
The RWDM increases the pressure and gets Ostend into trouble. Gabriel falls flat on a low bang from Mboup. Wylin can prevent Alberto from getting close in the replay.
Sanchez immediately asserts himself. With a bit of luck he enters the area and sees his deflected shot disappear into the corner. Again KVO is all in, but in the end Gabriël comes out on top.
2nd half
We start the second half with some new names. Wylin joined the Ostend team, Mboup and Sanchez are RWDM freshmen.
Rust
After a lackluster first half, KV Oostende can rest with a 1-0 lead. Thanks to RWDM goalkeeper Hubert. He painfully missed a harmless shot from Henderson against his former team. The RWDM subsequently failed to cause any problems for the coastal team.
There is still RWDM, but once again the guests fail to put the ball between the posts. Gueye’s wild attempt goes high.
It was a lucky goal, but KV Oostende legitimizes the advantage. Berte puts Hubert in difficulty, but in the end he is unable to get past the goalkeeper.
What the RWDM has shown so far on the Ostend field is very poor.
Tom Boudeweel on Radio 1
Perez decides in attack
Ostend showed danger again with a long ball from Henderson to D’Haese. Abner gets in the middle and the ball ends up in the area, at the feet of Club loanee Perez. He aims wide in one shot.
Ostend continues to opt for attack
Ostend did not retreat en masse from the opening goal. The coastal team continues to play without problems and seeks to double their lead. RWDM fails to take control of the match.
Wild shot from Camara that ends up high. The visitors have nothing left to offer after the 1-0 lead. Is Ostend on track for a new cup stunt or does RWDM have something else in store?
RWDM had no immediate reaction after the surprising goal. On the other hand, it is KV Oostende who score another corner, even if they give nothing away.
Hubert’s mistake!
KV Oostende takes the initiative out of nowhere! Hubert clumsily missed Henderson’s harmless long-range shot. The former KVO goalkeeper is completely wrong, RWDM suddenly has to chase.
Ostend also now has a corner. Henderson tries with a short variation which results in another corner. Hubert then snatches the ball out of the air in authoritative fashion.
It’s just like yesterday in Ghent waiting for opportunities. It is not the case that RWDM KV Oostende overcomes here, the coastal team is participating well. Goalkeeper Gabriel hasn’t had any problems yet.
Tom Boudeweel on Radio 1
Another corner for the guests, once again KV Oostende emerges unscathed. We continue to wait for opportunities to be exploited in this opening phase.
Yellow for Le Joncour
The first yellow card of the match goes to RWDM. Captain Le Joncour enters the referee De Cremer’s book.
RWDM screams for the first time on Mercier’s corner kick. Gabriel punches the ball away and immediately launches a strong counterattack. Heris resolves the counterattack with a decisive tackle.
The opening minutes pass in silence. There is still work to do for both teams. Visitors try to take the lead.
Kick off
They started it in Ostend! Will the coastal team also be able to perform stunts against RWDM or will the Brussels club advance to the semi-finals?
Ostend has already eliminated two first division teams
Ostend has already managed to avoid three obstacles on the way to these quarter-finals. After a regular 5-0 win against amateur club FC Ganshoren, Eupen and Racing Genk eliminated two first division teams from the cup.
RWDM went 1-0 twice, each time thanks to a late winner. In the round of 16, Dwomoh scored in the final phase against Olympic Charleroi, a round later Reine-Adélaïde did the same against KV Kortrijk.
Better than last season
KV Oostende is already doing better in the cup than last season. Then they were eliminated by Union in the round of 16. Last season RWDM even lost in the round of 16 to KV Kortrijk.
Losing finalists
Both KV Oostende and RWDM cannot show a great record in the Belgian Cup. Both clubs have already lost finalists. In 2017, KVO narrowly missed out on the cup, losing to Zulte Waregem on penalties. RWDM has been in the final since 1969 (as Racing White), when they lost to Lierse.
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Closer at 1B
Despite financial problems, KV Oostende surprisingly kept the points at home against Zulte Waregem last Sunday. In a crazy final and after a penalty missed by Van Daele, Berte still gave all the spoils to the coastal team. KVO didn’t gain much from this. With just 10 points after 17 days of play – albeit after the licensing committee deducted 9 points – they remain bottom of the Challenger Pro League.
RWDM in the danger zone
RWDM ended 2023 on a low note with three defeats in their last four league matches. Furthermore, they have conceded an impressive 13 goals, bringing their total to 40 goals this season. Only Eupen and Kortrijk have scored more goals than RWDM this season. With 10 days to go in 1A, the doctoral student from Brussels is 13th in the danger zone.
Is KVO dismissing the concerns?
KV Oostende was still alive and well a few years ago, but is now in serious financial trouble due to mismanagement. In recent days the club has gained extra time by paying off the most precarious debts.
Despite the victory against Zulte Waregem last Sunday, interim coach Michiel Jonckheere left and the following day president Frank Dierckens also decided to call it quits. Also on the sidelines now is America First with newcomer Jamath Shoffner. Will the 45-year-old coach be able to put the financial malaise on the back burner and lead Ostend to the cup semi-finals?
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The match starts fifteen minutes later
Many RWDM supporters’ buses experienced delays in their journey to the coast due to snowy weather. That’s why it was decided to start fifteen minutes later. At 8.15pm Wesli De Cremer will whistle for the first time.
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OHL – Antwerp and the Brussels Union – Anderlecht derby will not be played tonight due to the winter weather. The match between KV Oostende and RWD Molenbeek will remain on the schedule this evening (for the time being).
In the quarter-finals, Ostend won 3-1 against Genk.
