Seraing took a slight advantage over RWDM by winning 0-1 on the lawn of Brussels on Saturday in the first leg of the play-offs for maintenance. The only goal of the match was scored by Georges Mikautadze a few seconds before half-time. Mikautadze alerted Theo Defourny for the first time by trying his luck at the entrance to the rectangle but without danger for the Brussels goalkeeper (24th). Three minutes later, the Seresian striker fired a shot at the height of the penalty spot, but placed the leather next to the RWDM cages.
In the 35th, Defourny made a four-star parade to get out a header from Mikautadze. The Molenbeekois got their heads out of the water somewhat through Kylian Hazard who pushed Guillaume Dietsch to intervene for the first time in the match.
Just before half-time, Mikautadze finally found the opening. The striker recovered the leather a few meters from the rectangle before opening his foot at the entrance to the area (45th, 0-1). His 14th goal of the season gave the Steelworkers a deserving lead.
RWDM came back on the field with better intentions and came close to equalizing twice. Nicolas Rommens hit the amount of Dietsch on a free kick (57th) and, on the rebound, Igor de Camargo attempted an acrobatic return which hit the Liège crossbar.
The people of Brussels still came close to equalizing on another set piece following a save on the line from Daniel Oparé on a header from Vorogovskiy (70th).
Less present in the second act, Seraing recovered at the end of the game. Cachbach forced Defourny to a new parade in the 85th minute, maintaining hope for the return match, scheduled for April 30 at the Pairay stadium.