Standard returned to the locker room with an advantage, acquired once morest the flow of play. Les Rouches fell back into their mistakes at Den Dreef, and suffered a second defeat in these Europe Play-Offs.
Seventh day of Europe Play-Offs and a meeting between OHL and Standard, on the program this Sunday. A game for which Ivan Leko makes two changes. Marlon Fossey starts on the right, Cihan Canak on the left. Isaac Price returns to his place in midfield, Sowah and Djenepo are on the bench.
And here is the match sheet for this #OHLSTA pic.twitter.com/mW2I7GEYI0
— Loïc Woos (@LoicWoos) May 5, 2024
Standard in control at the break, once morest the flow of play
After a first observation round of around ten minutes, the first big opportunity is in Louvan. A well-executed defensive exit, Akimoto changes the game for Sagrado, who crosses. Panzo loses his header duel with Mueanta, it takes a very good intervention from Epolo, who had nevertheless anticipated on the other side, to avoid conceding a quick first goal (11th).
Overall, in this first half, it will only be for Louvain, who are much quicker and more dangerous than Standard. Sahabo, in front of the defense, is completely overwhelmed, Kawabe and Kanga are invisible, Fossey still has to get his bearings following his injury, Canak doesn’t convince either. As is often the case this season, especially on the road, the Matricule 16 offers long balls, into space.
🧱 | This double rescue from Matthieu Epolo! 🧤😮💨 #OHLSTA pic.twitter.com/2KE94wssOw
— Eleven Belgium (FR) (@ElevenBeFR) May 5, 2024
Behind, it wouldn’t take much to see Louvain take the lead. Maertens shoots above, yet alone (22nd), while Sagrado multiplies the crosses, Akimoto the infiltrations, Maziz the dangerous balls. However, once morest the run of play, it was Standard who opened the scoring. Kawabe goes deep for Yeboah, total disagreement between Russo and Schingtienne, the Standard striker strikes cross and opens the scoring (0-1, 44th).
Ivan Leko’s men aim to maintain their advantage for as long as possible, but they will not have been able to evolve even 120 seconds in the second half while leading the score. Noubi commits a foul on Maertens at the edge of the area, Maziz’s curling free kick deceives Epolo (1-1, 47th).
© photonews
The Rouches fell back into their ways in Louvain
In this second period, the content is not very different. OHL once once more settles in Standard’s half, which barely manages to get going once more. Yeboah and Kanga are alone and receive the ball fifty meters from Prévôt, impossible for them to endanger the French goalkeeper.
The best Liégeois on the pitch is Matthieu Epolo. If the young goalkeeper can possibly do better on Maziz’s free kick, he is, once once more, in the right place to counter Akimoto, at the far post (60th). Louvain brings danger from the wings, the Liège defense bends, but does not break yet.
Nsingi, him once more
It is on an individual exploit that she will end up giving in. The savior of Louvain during the last day of the classic phase, Nachon Nsingi, did it once more. A pure, clear, floating shot from outside the rectangle which deceives a surprised Epolo, who can do nothing. Standard’s three central defenders were close to the action, but with their backs to the ball, and unable to counter (2-1, 75th).
There will still be no first victory for Standard in these Play-Offs 2. Beaten at Den Dreef, the Rouches have five draws and two defeats. Note the rise in the game of Brahim Ghalidi, in the 70th minute. The Moroccan from SL16 FC celebrated his second participation in D1A, the first dating back to two years ago, in April 2022, in Sint-Truiden.
At the very end of the match, Joren Dom thought of scoring the third goal, taking advantage of an error from Laifis, on a serve from Nsingi. The goal is canceled for a handball by the Louvanist forward…but it’s only a postponement. Because, less than 60 seconds later, Nsingi took advantage, this time, of Laifis’ slowness to serve Thorsteinsson, who buried Standard (3-1, 90+5th).
