After the correction inflicted by Zulte Waregem on Eupen at the start of the afternoon (1-5), Ostend could still believe in their chances of staying. For that, the Côtiers had first and foremost to obtain a result against Louvain, at home.
But the meeting quickly turned into a disaster. Louvain, still in the race for a place in playoffs 2, imposed its rhythm and opened the scoring via a cross shot from Schrijvers from the entrance to the area, well served back by Mendyl (0-1, 22nd). A few moments before the break, Opoku transformed a corner kicked by Schrijvers and deflected by Pletinckx towards the far post (0-2, 44th).
Returning from the locker room, KVO tried to emerge but their hopes were dashed by a penalty when Al Tamari was knocked off balance in the box by Medley. Thorsteinsson converted the try (0-3, 58th). The Icelandic led a counter at the end of the game to bury Ostend definitively, finding Nsingi for the fourth goal (0-4, 88th).
With Seraing (19 points), Ostend (24 points) therefore becomes the second team mathematically relegated to D1B. Zulte Waregem (27 points), against Cercle Brugge, and Eupen (28 points), at Club Brugge, will compete for maintenance on the last day. The Essevee will absolutely have to win, hoping that Eupen does not win in Bruges, to stay in the first division.
With 45 points, Louvain, 11th, can still hope to grab 8th place, which still belongs to Charleroi (47 points), if the results of their competitors smile on them.
Cercle beats Saint-Trond and can still believe in the top 8 (3-1)
Cercle Brugge dominated Saint-Trond on the 33rd day of the Pro League at the Jan Breydelstadion (3-1, half-time 2-0) and can still hope to play playoffs 2.
The first half was hotly contested between these two close teams in the standings (only 2 points separated the Cercle de Saint-Trond at kick-off) but there were few clear chances. Bauer hooked Da Silva Lopes in his rectangle and conceded a penalty, converted into the top corner by Ayase Ueda (41st). The Japanese even scored a double by exploiting an opening from Somers after an approximate recovery from the Trudonnaires (45th + 2)
Saint-Trond did not give up in the second period and tried to pick up. The referee awarded the visitors a penalty after a foul on a tumble from Koïta, who came off the bench. Like Ueda, Gianni Bruno did not shake, shooting in power in the opposite corner (67th). The striker even had the opportunity to score a double but his off-center shot missed the target (70th). On a great collective action, Kevin Denkey finally made the break for the Circle (84th).
In the standings, this victory allows the people of Bruges to still dream of the top 8. Ninth with 47 points, they are tied on points with Charleroi (8th) and one point ahead of Anderlecht, who travel to Genk on Sunday. Saint-Truiden remains in 12th place with 42 points.